[jae686]

A little ethics question from the satellite FT last night. Clayton, feel free to chime in if you remember something I don't.

So there's 8 players left in the satellite, which pays 4 seats. It folds to my SB. Blinds are 800/1600/300. I have maybe 20K, and the BB has 6 or 7K (Average stack at once it's over is gonna be about 35k). I look down at 97o and decide to push because the BB had been folding all day. As I put my cards back down and move my right hand toward my stack, I notice the BB very obviously looking at me and moving his hand with me. I don't believe I moved my chips at all...he was just giving me the "I'm coming with you" move. It was very obvious to the table what was going on. I paused for a couple seconds, said "alright, you bought yourself a walk" and then folded. No controvesy, no one bitching at me, but like I said it was obvious what had happened.

Fast forward to 6 players left. 1000/2000/500. Folds to SB who limps with a stack of ~14K. I have a little over 20K. I look down at K8s, go to my stack and begin pushing it forward (I progressed a couple inches). As soon as I did this, the SB beat me into the pot, quickly shoving his stack in past the action line. I immediately stopped and said "hold on". Then the table exploded into insanity with "that's BS...you did that already...that's illegal...you're trying to trick everyone...etc.". Anyway, despite the heavy criticism, I was lucky to have the floor break it my way and got just a warning. I checked. The flop was K44. SB checked, I bet and took it down, he said he had AJ. He ended up being the lucky one in that situation.

So anyway, I realize that the rules vary from venue to venue, and I wonder why they have an action line if it doesn't seem to mean anything. However, I'm doing everything I can to win, and if they are going to allow it (or even if there's a chance they're going to allow it) I'm going to do everything I can to evaluate the information given to me before making a decision. I was being told that I was trying to cheat and fool everyone, which was not my goal at all. In both situations, I had legitimate plans to push, but I was given new information before (I thought) I had committed to my action. I don't see the controversial hand as being much different from counting down chips before noticing an anxious player behind you and then folding. I also think the first hand was nothing more than the old sticking your chips out before your turn to buy a check.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't take my time and at least get the floor in a situation like this?