Being a Dealer-Friendly Player

What would you list as the two most important characteristics of a great dealer? My choice would be speed and accuracy. We want the game to move quickly and we want error-free dealing. How can we players help dealers speed up the game and increase accuracy?

Pay Attention

"What, it's to me?" How frequently we hear that question. A player who does not keep up with the action not only slows down the game, but will never be a long-term winning player. Keeping up with the action speeds up the game and makes us better players.

A corollary to keeping up with the action is being prepared to act when it is your turn. You may prefer to wait until the action is on you before peeking at your holecards, but as the action progresses around the table, you can be reviewing your options. Then, when the action gets to you, you will be ready to act.

Occasionally, we need additional time before making our move. No one likes to be rushed when trying to make a difficult decision. We should alert the dealer that we are cogitating and not daydreaming. Simply stating "time" will let everyone know that we need more time. The dealer and other players usually do not mind our taking extra time as long as they know that we are not asleep. By paying attention, we speed up the game and help improve our play.

Chip Management

Until I began playing poker, it never occurred to me that some short people have long arms and some tall people have short arms, but most short people have short arms. You get the point: Push your chips into the pot far enough that the dealer can reach them. It slows down the game when the dealer has to ask for help in dragging in chips from the thoughtless player who does not place them within the dealer's reach.

On occasion, I will push another player's chips to within reaching distance of the dealer. I am aware of the rules prohibiting players from touching chips already in the pot, but that seems to be an innocent infraction given the results accomplished. It not only speeds up the game, but after doing this once or twice, the offending player usually gets the message.

However, do not overdo it and "splash the pot." That is, do not mix your chips with those already in the pot when you place your bet. Place your chips in front of you, within reach of the dealer yet segregated from chips already in the pot.

It is the dealer's duty to ensure that all bets are the correct amount. When chips are properly placed in the pot, a good dealer can tell at a glance whether the chip count is correct. Usually, if the bet requires more than four or five chips, I will make two stacks. It is easier for the dealer to count two stacks of four chips than one stack of eight chips.

"Give Me a Button" and Other Verbal Clues

In games such as hold'em and Omaha, the two players to the left of the dealer are required to "post a blind," similar to an ante in a stud game. When a player "misses his blind," the dealer places a "missed blind" button at the player's position. When the player returns, he must either post the amount of the blind to play the next hand or wait until the button comes back around to his seat. Customarily, when a player is going to take a break, he will leave when it is his time to post. If the player gets up and says nothing, the dealer does not know whether the player plans to return in time to take his blind. So, the dealer, before dealing the next hand, has to take time to look around the cardroom to try to determine if the absent player wants a hand. It is so simple to tell the dealer, "Give me a button" or "Deal around me" if you are not going to take the blind. Conversely, if you plan to come back, "Deal me in" is the code.

I will frequently ask a player as he leaves whether he wants a hand. The dealer will hear his response and will know whether or not to deal him in on the next hand. It's another time saver that benefits everyone.

And while on the subject of communication, it helps to announce to the table when you are taking an extended break, such as going to eat. Some cardrooms allow a player who's waiting for a game to "play over" an absent player. The absent player's chips are covered and the substitute player plays until the absent player returns. This helps in maintaining full tables and gives waiting players a chance to play while waiting to be called. But this works only when the player who is being played over is gone for a significant period of time. Announcing your intentions minimizes the time-consuming process of seating a player who is playing over, only to have the absent player return shortly thereafter.

When a seat comes open, it is the dealer's responsibility to notify the floor personnel that a vacancy exists. "Seat open on table 5" often gets lost in the noise of the cardroom. As a result, the person responsible for the list of waiting players does not hear the dealer and the seat remains open. When leaving a game, develop the habit of notifying the floor personnel of the available seat on your way to the cashier.

Cluttered Table

In the perfect poker world, I think the only items on the poker table would be cards and chips; nothing else – no cups, glasses, cigarettes, ashtrays, magazines, fans, RC Colas, or M&Ms. A cluttered table causes misdeals, betting out of turn, and a general slowing down of play. But the poker world is not perfect, so what is the next best solution?

• Cover your cards with chips, not your hands. This makes it easier for the dealer and other players to know which players are in the hand. If your preference is to cover your cards with your hand, leave part of the cards visible for others to see.

• When not in a hand, keep your arms and hands off the table. This, along with the absence of cards in front of you, leaves no doubt that you are not in the hand.

• Limit your "extras" on the table. I try to limit mine to my chips and a cup holder (and sometimes a fan if there are smokers).

• Be reasonable in stacking your chips. I know one guy who lines up his chips in a single-file line aimed at the dealer. On a good day, his stack extends two feet out on the table. This is not only distracting, it tends to hide adjacent players' cards. Fortunately, he usually does not have enough chips to make much of a line.

Providing Chips

A cardroom is often chaotic. A new player sits down needing chips. The dealer screams, "Checks (chips) on table 3." The chip runner is three orders behind. It is the new player's turn to post a blind. The new guy has no chips and the dealer's rack is empty – and you are on a rush and do not want the game to slow down. Familiar scene?

Shove a stack of chips to the new player with the loud request that he pay you back when his chips come. This really speeds up the game, as this is a situation that invariably takes time. (But do not forget to get your loan back when the chip runner arrives.)

Often, players will sell chips to another player. This speeds up the game, as it relieves the dealer from stopping the game to either provide chips to the player or call for a chip runner. Some cardrooms do not permit this practice, so be sure of the rules before acting on this suggestion.

Another dealer-friendly suggestion relates to players providing lower-denomination chips for the rake. On each hand, the dealer has to have the "proper change" to enable him to rake the correct amount for payment to the house. For example, in a $10-$20 hold'em game, the dealer will take five $1 chips from his rack and exchange them for one $5 chip from the pot. This will enable him to take the appropriate rake before pushing the pot to the winner. It is helpful if a player posting a blind will include five $1 chips, thereby relieving the dealer from having to make change.

But do not overdo it. A good dealer will try not to give the winner a pot full of lower-denomination chips. So, if several players put in lower-denomination chips, the dealer will exchange them for those of a higher denomination. Putting in an excess number of lower-denomination chips simply creates more work for the dealer.

And while we are on the subject, when coming from another game, exchange your chips for the appropriate chip denomination of the new game. This will aid in keeping the game moving along at a nice pace.

Playing in the No. 1 and No. 10 Seats

When sitting in either of the seats next to the dealer, protect your hand by placing chips on your cards. Otherwise, there is a chance that the dealer will pick up your cards and muck them (put them in the discards), causing anger and confusion. In fact, it is a good idea to protect your hand in all positions, as sometimes a player will inadvertently mix his cards with yours when mucking his cards. This could result in your hand becoming "dead." Protect your hand.

It is difficult for a right-handed dealer to deal cards to the seats on the right side of the table if the player to his immediate right has both of his hands on the table. Be aware of this and act accordingly.