Just When You Think There’s Nothing New in the Poker World…

Most of you have heard of or participated in some type of poker “partners” or “tag team” event. Usually there are two people on a team (sometimes you are allowed to play in a doubles event without a partner) and the two team members share one stack of chips. The standard format calls for the partners to switch at the end of each round. If there is more than one game being played, for instance limit hold’em and limit Omaha eight-or-better, the partners switch every time the game changes.

Jan Fisher and I had the pleasure recently of hosting the Nevada State Ladies Poker Championship, held at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. I looked on the schedule and saw an event called “Tag Team Switch.” I googled Tag Team Switch to find out more about its origin, its rules, and so on, but all I got was results from prior “Switch” events.

Lupe Soto, founder and CEO of the Ladies International Poker Series, better known as LIPS, was my go-to source for information. According to Lupe, the Switch format was invented by the World Tavern Poker League a few years ago. They wanted to do something different for their players. LIPS liked it so much, they incorporated it into their doubles events.

Here is how Tag Team Switch works: There are two people to a team and each starts with his or her own stack of chips. They must be at different tables. If during the course of breaking and combining tables, the players must alert the tournament staff if they are moved to the same table as their partner. As in a regular tournament, the blinds and antes increase on a set time schedule. Each person plays hands at his or her table. The catch comes in when the tournament director yells out “Switch, switch, switch!” At that time, each player in the tournament must throw his or her hands up in the air and there can be no more action until after the partners switch tables. In other words, you inherit your partner’s hand. You are not allowed to communicate how you got to where you are in the hand or what the action was from the beginning of the hand. You might sit down to a situation where you have just bet half pot. You might sit down and be facing a three-bet.

Whatever was happening at the time of the switch is what you have inherited. It obviously is imperative that the dealers keep track so they know whose turn it is and what the current action is. You must pick up the action where your partner left off. The tournament director yells “Switch” at random times; it might be once every 10-15 minutes or it might be two minutes after the last switch. The important concept is that no action can take place once the switch has been announced until the new partner is in place.

When one of the team members gets eliminated, the partners continue to switch, both using the remaining stack. If both team members are still in the tournament when it gets to the final table, they combine their stacks and take turns playing when the switch is called for.

I was involved at the final table of the main event (sick brag here…I final tabled each of the three Nevada State ladies tournaments), which took place at the same time as the Tag Team Switch event, so I didn’t get to play in it, but it looked like a lot of fun. Perhaps you should give it a try.

The Nevada State Ladies Poker Championship was well attended, with 142 entries in the main event and more than 100 entries in each of the two preliminary events. I like to give credit where credit is due, so I am saying kudos to the entire Peppermill poker room staff. Poker room manager Mike Nelson and poker host Jimmy Horikawa are exceptional at their jobs. They both seem to work around the clock to ensure that all guests have a great poker experience. The poker room has the most comfortable chairs of any poker room I’ve ever played in. There are complimentary snacks available for the players as well as a self-service beverage bar. In fact, the entire Peppermill Resort is fabulous. They have been able to keep the casino and hotel looking like it is brand new even though the last renovation was several years ago. There is a large selection of restaurants to fit every taste (the Sunday brunch at Biscotti’s is phenomenal!) The rooms in the Tuscany Tower are my favorite standard rooms of any hotel, with huge spa bathtubs and a television in the bathroom.

The ladies weekend included a lot more than just poker. Jan and I gave a poker seminar. There was a meet and greet party as well as a special brunch. It’s always fun meeting new poker players and getting a chance to say hello to poker friends.

My next road trip will be to the Senior Poker Tour in Tunica, Mississippi. The four-day series will take place Apr. 21-24. I hope to see you there! In the meantime, please check out my website at www.cardplayercruises.com . It has a new look as well as a list of new poker cruises for 2017. ♠

Linda is a member of the Poker Hall of Fame and the Women in Poker Hall of Fame. She is available to host poker seminars, corporate poker events, and charity tournaments. You can contact her through her website at www.cardplayercruises.com.