Harrah's St. Louis dealer rant: LC

[TenFourOff]

So, I was playing some 1-2 Hold'em NL at Harrah's St. Louis. I had a losing session, so this may color my perception somewhat, but I had what must have been the world's most annoying dealer. I believe that his poor dealing may have even cost me a hand or two.
My first problem is he was very inefficient. Most other dealers could deal ~20 hands/ half-hour. He may have dealt half of that. The reason for this is he was constantly making stupid jokes and assinine comments. For example, flop was 7-4-K, dealer announces "Twenty-One!!, BlaaaaackJaaaack!!!!." On some hands, even when the action was clear, he would do a play by play with a poor Howard Cosel (sp?) accent. During the hand he would hum, make funny noises, or do poor impersonations. Sometimes these would influence the hand. For example, he was tapping the table while humming, so the one seat thought the ten seat had checked to him and therefore acted out of turn.
There were two hands where this affected me. I was heads-up against a donator, and the turn completed my flush. After the turn was dealt, dealer said "There it is." I bet, donator folded. I have no idea if he would have folded without the dealer's comment, but this is not something I should have to wonder about. A few hands later, I attempted to steal from the SB with one-limper. I clearly said "raise to seven," and threw in two red chips. Instead of paying attention to the action, dealer was doing his show, saw the two red chips, announced a ten dollar bet. The limper, on the other side of the table, who heard me, told the dealer that I only raised to seven. The dealer then asked me what my bet was. When I answered seven, my voice did something strange, which, I believe, caused the limper to re-raise me and, of course, I folded. Once again, I do not know for sure that the limper would not have re-raised me anyway, but this is not something I should have to wonder.
I have no problem with dealers making light banter at the table, and keeping the game fun. In fact, this is something which I believe all good dealers should do. However, there is a wide line between keeping the game light and fun and engaging in behavior which is detrimental to the game. This dealer, I believe, clearly crossed it.

[steamraise]

Dealer sounds like a clown.
Talk to his supervisor.
Take a break when he's in the box.

[TenFourOff]

This was my first time playing there. Fortunately, all the other dealers seemed very competent. I will take your advice about taking a break when he deals. One of the reasons I posted this (besides getting off a good rant), is that I hope management will see this post and do something.

[RR]

[ QUOTE ]
I have no problem with dealers making light banter at the table, and keeping the game fun.

[/ QUOTE ]

No they shouldn't. One person's light banter can be very annoying to others. I will give you an example. many years ago I was playing in a card room in Indiana (that has since clsoed and reopened) and there was an obvious regular in the game. Every single dealer that sat down sai dhello and asked him about his fishing trip. Nobody at the table cared about his fishing trip and if anyone did the first time hearing it was plenty.

The other problem with "light banter" is dealers aren't good enough to talk and deal at the same time. There are dealers that can talk and not slow the game "too much" maybe even keep it moving faster than most, but dealers talking in the box is the number one cause of mistakes. It is hard enough to hear everything with all the noise in the casino, now the dealer is going to add to that noise with light banter?

[steamraise]

[ QUOTE ]
One person's light banter can be very annoying to others.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, even if everyone seems to be enjoying the
show there's at least one player gritting his
teeth wishing the dealer would shut up and deal.

In a low limit game (1-4, 3/6, 4/8) I think it's alright
for the dealer to talk a little while shuffling. But as
the limits increase it's time to dummy up and deal.

[tkersting]

Was it Denny by chance, a bigger younger guy?

[TenFourOff]

No. If you want, I will P.M. you who it was.

[waldo027]

I sent him a PM and I'm almost positive I know who he is talking about.

[TenFourOff]

The reason I am posting this is that I recieved a PM that the dealer is still saying, "there it is" when three to a suit fall. Hence it is not an isolated incident. I am thinking of writing a letter to management, now.

Villian was a donator (calling station) as previously mentioned. This hand is from memory, so some cards may not be completely correct, but it is close.

Hero MPsomething, villian LP
pf 1 limper, hero called with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] villian called.

flop A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]
limper checked, hero bet $10, villian called, limper folded.

turn 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], dealer says "There it is"
hero bet $15, villian folded. Before this hand, he almost always called to the river with less than premium hands. I figure I was cost $15-$50 by the dealer's comment.

[Quadstriker]

[ QUOTE ]
I sent him a PM and I'm almost positive I know who he is talking about.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm pretty sure I know as well. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I like the guy.