[MasterBrewer]

Originally Posted by hachkc

If I tell my wife to call someone else because I'm busy playing cards, it now becomes a life and death situation.

Exactly what I was thinking, except there is no possibilty for "life" there... its just a "death" situation

[jojobinks]

Originally Posted by detroitdad

Who makes the call on what is an emergency and what isn't?

B

the person in question decides that. but the guy that runs the game decides what happens to the chips/buyin.

the fact that this decision might lead to further decisions seems irrelevant to me. by definition, running a game means you have to make judgement calls. if your guys take advantage of this, that sucks. but it doesn't mean you can't rule one way today and later decide it's inappropriate b/c people are taking advantage.

[hachkc]

Simply make a rule.

Once you buyin to the tourney, the only way you get your money back is to win it back. Optionally, set a time limit like 30mins after which you are SOL.

[Matthew]

It's early, he's a regular, there's no pattern, there's no intent to defraud - give his money back and hopefully he makes it back later that night. Now if others have busted out it and he was short stacked - that's a different story. Really he shouldn't have any expectations of a refund and shouldn't be asking at that point.

It's always gonna be a situational thing.

[PhilTheThrill14]

As long as he promises not to mention anything about "running it twice" in the cash game later - I give him his buy-in back.

[detroitdad]

Originally Posted by jojobinks

the person in question decides that. but the guy that runs the game decides what happens to the chips/buyin.

the fact that this decision might lead to further decisions seems irrelevant to me. by definition, running a game means you have to make judgement calls. if your guys take advantage of this, that sucks. but it doesn't mean you can't rule one way today and later decide it's inappropriate b/c people are taking advantage.

I completely agree with what your saying, except if you run a regular game, decisions you make in one tourney can and will carry over to future tourney's. Its not like this is a gray area. You buy into a tourney, there isn't a refund. I'm not trying to be an ass, thats just how it works. Friends, poker players, ect.... should know this.

You refund him, if you have posted the pay out schedule where do you take the money from? re-adjust all the payouts?

Sorry for your emergency, hope you make it back, your chips will be on the table.

B

[MasterBrewer]

The other upside of this is our player now has been saddled with a new nickname. I was talking with another player in the game today and we were talking about our refund-guy. Here was our conversation:

Me: I think John is having a game at his house tomorrow night.
Other player: John S. or "Cheap John"?
Me (laughing): No, "Cheap John"
Other player: I'll be there

(names changed to protect the thrifty)

[hachkc]

Originally Posted by detroitdad

I completely agree with what your saying, except if you run a regular game, decisions you make in one tourney can and will carry over to future tourney's. Its not like this is a gray area. You buy into a tourney, there isn't a refund. I'm not trying to be an ass, thats just how it works. Friends, poker players, ect.... should know this.

Sorry for your emergency, hope you make it back, your chips will be on the table.

B

While I agree in general, there should be exceptions to the rule. Guy shows up to play cards, he plays 2 hands in the tourney and gets a call from his pregnant wife that isn't due for another 3 weeks and she says get home now. Its a safe bet he ain't coming back. Is it wrong to give him his money back? In this situation, I said no. Change this around to the fact that the guy has played for 3 hrs and is far from the bubble and you'll get a different answer. Change the first scenario from a pregnant wife to a GF that comes home from a long trip a day earlier and you'll get a different answer there to.

This was jojo's point that there are situations where it should be fine and other siutations where it isn't. Some are clear cut one way or the other and others fall into that nasty grey area.

[imperial10]

Doyle Brunson cashed out $20,000 during the 1972 Wsop when it was down to 3 players due to sickness.

This has happened at my home games as well and it was hard for me to make a decision. I just said his chips are dead and no refund. I hate saying these things to good buddies that go way back.

Does anyone here have actual house rules stated on their walls near their gaming area? Maybe I should put one up.


So which of these rules is more sufficient?

1. Once the tournament starts the pot is in full action and no refund.

2. 15 Minute grace period to get a refund of your buy in.

3. In a situation where you have to leave, the table will blind you remaining chips out until your return.

4. Full return of original buy in

5. Full return of original buy in, only if chip stack is up to original starting amount.

I think #3 is the most fair rule.

By the way did your friend ever return?

[hachkc]

Originally Posted by imperial10

Doyle Brunson cashed out $20,000 during the 1972 Wsop when it was down to 3 players due to sickness.

Very nice of them but this also used to be a more social event where they actually voted for who the winner was.

5. Full return of original buy in, only if chip stack is up to original starting amount.

Personally I don't like this at all. Tourney chips have no intrinsic cash value to them but simply offer you the right to play for the prize. If they have 1/2 the starting, can they get half their money back? What if they have twice the starting stack?