checking partners
 

The game I play in is a extremely loose and crazy 10/20 limit game. There are 2-3 guys playing every night that if they get heads up together they will just check it down. It doesn't matter if they have a hand or not. I havent said anything because they dont seem to be whipsawing or trying to push others out of the hand when they are in the pot together. But if they happen to get head up they always check it down. Is this ethical in your view?

Re: checking partners
 

No

Re: checking partners
 

he problem is of cours enot that they check it down, its that each knows that if they can get the other players out of the hand they will not have to risk any further money, the other players do not have the luxury of knowing that there will not be another bet.

That being said I have seen some limit players who will check it down with everyone in the game if it gets to heads up. Either they don't think its "gentlemanly" to bet into one opponent or they think that its not worth the risk to win one additional bet.

If the players are of this variety I would contend its not unethical that they check it down when heads up with any opponent its just bad strategy.

Re: checking partners
 

I've had that problem in my home game that I have virtually put a stop to through gentle nudging and education. Players that check it down need to be constantly reminded that it is not fair to the people who were bet out in earlier rounds. I also tell players that check it down that they are hurting themselves by letting their check down buddy draw for free while in reverse with another player they would have to pay. I also tell players that if we were playing basketball for nothing we would try to win so why all this good guy attitude in poker?

It has taken awhile but anytime I have seen where checking it down has hurt a player I remind them, plus I say if the money is a problem maybe they should play for lower stakes. All of this has pretty much eliminated checking it down. I also had a problem where guys would make deals and take their previous bet out of the pot once it was heads up, this was quickly outlawed.

Re: checking partners
 

i had this happen monday night, down to me and two friends/donkeys

After checking down 3-4 hands out of 5 they played together:

Him: "Man, I'm just waiting to hit a flop here..."

Me: That's funny, because I'm just waiting for you two guys to stop checking down every [censored] hand you play together..."


They got the picture.