Problems at the Taj last weekend

[kailua]

[ QUOTE ]
I go down and play Small Stakes Hold'em about once a month, usually 5-10 or 3-6 if the former is not available.

Last Saturday while playing 3-6 between 12AM and 7AM I witnessed the most blatant rules violations I have ever encountered. Two Asian players were in the middle of a hand not speaking English to each other. The dealer, who was also Asian, was talking to one of the players in a language other than English once the hand was over but said nothing about this while the hand was going on. This happened more than once. I am only mentioning the race of the players and the dealer for accuracy's sake.

Players also were showing their hands pre-flop to their neighbors before they folded them, and were reacting to flops and turns while they were not in the hand, especially when aces hit. They were doing this both with facial gestures and with "low talking." The game was very loose-aggtressive all night.

I have played at the Taj many times before, and with the exception of the foreign language situation this kind of stuff exists, but I never seen it to this extent. I also have never played at this time as I am normally sleeping.

I was undecided to complain to the floor because the players were so bad, and I was making money. On the other hand, I did not want it to cost me a pot and/or I did not want to look like the "heavy" and get no action. The bottom line is that it was really sucking the enjoyment out of my session. The money was nice, but if I want to make more money, I will go and play 10-20 or 20-40 as I can afford it. I just choose not to play it.

So my question is this. Would it have done any good to say anything and/or does this kind of garbage happen to the same extent in the mid-limit games? It seems that it has increased over the past 4-6 months.

I invite your thoughts,

Nat

[/ QUOTE ]

So it’s early morning hours, the game’s loose aggressive juicy and you’re making money but bummed because you’re not getting you’re share of enjoyment. In other words, the rest of the table should stop having fun so that you can enjoy it more.

tell a few jokes…..flash a few cards…grimace and mutter as cards hit ….put a lid on the nittiness…. take the money and enjoy the walk to the cage

btw…I’m sure the dealer was just letting them know that you’re a serious winning stud at 3-6 and can even play higher stakes if you want because you can “afford” it.

[natroyal]

First of all, I want to thank all of you for the advice.

Let me get one thing straight, I am NOT complaining about making money. I made about 1.5 BB over the seven hour stretch that I played. I do agree that the non-english banter in the middle of the hand is the most serious of the offenses, and believe you (me) the next time I will say something (politely) the next time it happens.

I guess my biggest complaint was the fact that when is the OTHER stuff going to cost you a pot or an entire BB in the hand because one a-hole opened their mouth and/or might be in collusion with another player. My other question was does this stuff occur as much in 10/20 or 20/40 games.

Thanks again,

Nat

[jkamowitz]

This stuff occurs at all limits. It's one of the joys and pains of live poker.

However, I do agree that you should let it slide. Until the players start directing influencing the action i.e. "call him!" "call, I folded an Ace" "Fold" it's just the way the game goes.

Dont' get the floor involved unless the conversations in whatever language don't stop when you asked. Then politely inform the floor away from the table if it's still bothering you.