Happy Holidays!

I always appreciate getting reader feedback because it means you are reading my columns. I reply to each email I receive. Often I get asked questions that I believe may be interesting to enough people that I should include them in a column rather than just send a reply to the sender. Here are some of the questions I’ve recently been asked by readers.

Question: I am a tournament player. I play in a small, friendly cardroom on a regular basis and if I am lucky enough to get to the final table, the players in my local cardroom usually want to make a deal. In fact, they often push for a ten-way chop. I want to get experience playing short-handed, so I prefer to play the tournament out, but I feel pressured to give in to the others and I end up agreeing to the chop. How can I object to chopping without having everyone upset with me?

Answer: It is your right to say no to a deal. If the players are ganging up on you and making you uncomfortable, the tournament director should step in and stop the harassment immediately. If necessary, a penalty should be given to anyone who continues trying to pressure you. I like the rule at the Eureka Casino cardroom in Mesquite, NV; if someone objects to a deal, no one else is allowed to bring up a deal again except for the player who objected. If anyone else does, he or she will get a penalty. It stops the bullying!

Question: I’ve read that you recommend being friendly at the poker table. You’ve also said one of your pet peeves is when players say, “Good luck All-in.” What’s wrong with saying that?

Answer: Yes, I believe in having a friendly demeanor at the table. However, when you wish the all-in player good luck, it seems to me that you are wishing the player’s opponent bad luck. I also don’t think the “good luck” wish is usually sincere. For example, in a tournament, in order for you to win the tournament, you need all the other players to go bust. So, do you really want to wish them good luck?

Question: A dealer recently admonished me for folding my hand in a multi-way pot on the river before anyone bet. I thought I could fold any time I want. Is this against the rules or just bad etiquette?

Answer: You are not alone in thinking it is okay to fold before there is a bet. I definitely agree with the dealer’s position on this. If you fold before anyone bets, you are not protecting the other players. TDA Rule # 53 addresses this. Non-Standard Folds: Anytime before the end of the final betting round, folding in turn if there’s no bet to you (ex: facing a check or first to act post-flop) or folding out of turn are binding folds subject to penalty.

Question: My roommate loves to play poker. He has been on a losing streak lately and has borrowed money from most of his friends and not paid them back. He hasn’t paid his share of the rent for the past few months. What should I do?

Answer: Your roommate has acted very irresponsibly and probably has a gambling problem. Stop enabling his gambling problem by loaning him money or paying his share of the rent. You should encourage him to get help immediately. Chances are, there is a problem gambling center or a Gambler’s Anonymous chapter in your area. Here is a link to a good article about problem gambling: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/gambling-addiction-and-problem-gambling.htm.

Question: I tip poker dealers when I win a pot. With the holiday season approaching, is it appropriate to tip the other cardroom employees?

Answer: Yes, it is appropriate as long as the cardroom doesn’t have rules against it. The floor people, cashiers, brush people, and so on work hard for you all year long, so it is a nice gesture to give them a “thank you” gift (cash is best if you don’t know what they want or need) during the holidays or at any time of the year.

Change of subject: I just returned from a fundraiser in Medford, Oregon, for Kids Unlimited. I had the pleasure of touring the school and meeting a lot of the students. It was great to see how much good the school has done for its pupils. They feed them three nutritious meals a day and provide hugs and a great education. There were motivational signs on the walls with some wonderful messages including one that really made me take notice that said “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” So true!

As we enter another holiday season, I’d like to wish you all happiness, prosperity, love, and good health. The older I get, the more I realize and appreciate how important each of these things are. As you read this, I will be in Asia on a Card Player Cruises exotic vacation to Singapore, Komodo Island, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. I hope you will join me on one of the 2016 Card Player Cruises trips. Information can be found at www.cardplayercruises.com. ♠

Editor’s Note: Linda Johnson is a partner in Card Player Cruises. Linda is available to host poker seminars, tournaments, and charity and corporate events. You can contact her at [email protected].