Show Us What You've Got

I read a post recently on RGP from someone who has been watching the World Poker Tour on television. Here was his question:

When contemplating their next move, lots of these WPT players will often ask an opponent, "How many chips have you got left?" even though the chips are there in plain view. Does the opponent have to respond at all, does he have to go to the trouble of actually counting out his own chips for the convenience of another player, or can he just offer an approximate guess such as, "About $20,000, I think."

Can another player require the dealer to get involved in counting someone's chips when they are already in plain view? I have yet to hear anyone respond, "They are right there, count 'em yourself," or anything like that. Does this ever happen in the heat of battle? Is this covered in any tournament rules or is it left up to the players to police themselves? Just curious.

This is a very good question, so I sent it to three tournament directors to answer. Here are their replies:

Matt Savage: This is one of the reasons I have always been against having too many chips in play. Players have the right to know how many chips their opponents have. I strongly enforce the Tournament Directors Association rule that requires players to keep their largest chips visible at all times. This is an interesting question, and I believe it is correct for the dealer to assist in counting a player's chips to ensure that the amount is correct.

Jack McClelland: In response to the chip question, if a player asks for a count, the dealer is required to count the chips and give the player an accurate count of his opponent's chips.

Dave Lamb: Players have a right to know the amount of chips that their opponents have in order to properly make their betting decisions. However, in most circumstances, unless the chips are virtually even or unless the player requests an exact count, an estimate is adequate.

In the heat of battle, we can expect to hear anything. A dealer should count a player's chips if the player refuses to do so or stalls, or if the chips are not in easy-to-count stacks. Players should never handle other players' chips.

I hope this answers the question for the original poster. As the live-audience studio announcer for the WPT, I have never seen a player not cooperate or respond appropriately when asked how many chips he has.

Charter members of the WPT recently met with the management of the WPT to discuss plans to make the second season even better than the first one. Here are a few things you will see in the second season:

• There will be a standardized structure at the final table that will allow plenty of play. This will be based on beginning the limits such that the average chip stack has 50 big blinds.

• There are two new members of the Tour: Borgata and Bay 101. The Borgata Poker Open event will take place Sept. 20-22, and filming will be on Sept. 22. Bay 101 will have its famous Shooting Star tournament filmed for the WPT next March. Welcome aboard to the new members.

• There will be more satellites enabling players to win entries into charter members' events, as well as into the championship event at Bellagio.

Good luck to all who are planning to participate in the exciting second season of the World Poker Tour!

Now, let's play poker!

Editor's note: If you would like to contact Linda with column ideas, poker cruise questions, or anything else poker-related, please e-mail her.