[beekeeper]

I'm thinking of ways to make our home games move more quickly, without making them less fun for everyone.

Our game can get so slow with people socializing, not paying attention, or just going into the think tank for EVERY decision, that the blinds can go up 3 times before the dealer button has made one orbit--that's with 15 minute blinds!

I'm wondering if anyone's tried any of these strategies in their game, and how they worked:

"speed" poker rule: 30 seconds to act on your hand
hand automatically mucked if you're not at your seat when it's your turn to act
dedicated dealer

I'm also considering making the game pot limit before the flop, then no limit after the flop.

Thanks for any feedback.

[tonypap]

Originally Posted by beekeeper

hand automatically mucked if you're not at your seat when it's your turn to act

this is actually a rule at my house. it pisses some people off, but it's still a rule. I find it really annoying when people walk away (phone call, smoke, bathroom, etc) and expect you to sit there and wait.

[OnTheButton]

I was given a suggestion here at CT by someone a while ago, and it works fantastic.

We play weekly .50/$1 NLHE cash games and have a player base of about 14 people.

We used to "pass the deal" until I read the aforementioned post:

Every Saturday we play, a player must come over JUST TO DEAL from 5pm to 10pm. (They can deal longer if they want, but that is the minimum commitment.) They then get to spend the 10 or so games just playing, never having to shuffle a deck all night.

The player acting as a dealer works for tips, and can make $40-80 in their "shift" picking up a buck or two from the larger pots.

Having a dedicated dealer REALLY keeps the game moving, since there is someone actually running each and every hand. They can point at the stalling or slow players and remind them, "It's your action" without being considered an annoyance.

We also employ a digital oven timer the dealer keeps within their reach. If a player calls for time on another player, they are given one minute to decide before their hand is auto-folded.

[jdunford]

I always become dedicated dealer after I bust out, but sometimes that's late in the tourney. Having a designated dealer, especially one who's OCD/anal retentive, or just plain doesn't put up with BS, does indeed speed up the game significantly.

Lately, there's one guy at my league tourneys who's in the think tank for every decision... literally. It makes no sense to the rest of us... even UTG, he'll take as much time as you give him to decide to act. And to make matters worse, he's pretty loose, so he's involved in most pots. The first time he played, we didn't get an orbit in before the first break (1.5 hours)! I couldn't change the rules on the spot, and it was the most painful experience I'd ever edured (especially since I was in the seat immediately after him; I'd forget what my cards were by the time he acted - sometimes as long as 6 or 7 minutes - even with many other players berating him).

I had to institute a hand timer just for him. Well, it applies to everyone, but he's the only one it's ever been used on. Basically, he gets 30 seconds to act without interruption. After that, we literally count down an additional 30 seconds, after which his cards get mucked (even if all he had to do was check from the BB... which has happened a couple of times). If it's an all-in situation (where his tourney life is on the line if he calls), we give him 1 minute after the initial 30 seconds.

The rest of my players still think this is too long. He literally uses ever second, and sometimes doesn't act in time. And again, it's every action of nearly every hand. It wouldn't be so bad if he was tight and would only play 1/5 of hands or something. I'm also looking for other ways to deal with this. Some players have asked me not to invite him anymore because they get so frustrated... And it's come to some players acting out of turn - especially if they plan to raise - they don't want him to have to act twice in the same betting round, so raise while they're waiting, just so he can have more information and only make one decision in the betting round.

Also, when he deals, he likes to "add suspense" on all-in hands by dealing each board card as slowly as possible... usually until someone grabs the deck out of his hands and deals them out quickly. I think he watches too much poker on TV and thinks there's $1,000,000 in every pot or something. And comments to that effect, and some much nastier, have been made during the tournaments. He knows he's too slow, admits he's too slow, but continues taking every second he's allowed.

[OnTheButton]

Originally Posted by jdunford

I had to institute a hand timer just for him.

Even though he doesn't play with us anymore, we still call our timer "The Doug Timer."

[Stapes41]

I'd give the slow guy an ultimatum...speed it up or don't come anymore...grown adults should not be allowed to act like 3 yr olds just to make a power play (which is obv. what the dude is doing).

In general we find that using two decks (shuffle behind) keeps the game moving nicely and if people get up for smoke break, etc. they need to have the courtesy to say "muck me"...we don't want to immediately muck someone if they are only getting up to take a leak or grab a drink.

[jdunford]

Originally Posted by Stapes41

I'd give the slow guy an ultimatum...speed it up or don't come anymore...grown adults should not be allowed to act like 3 yr olds just to make a power play (which is obv. what the dude is doing).

Actually, he's a very weak/passive player. He almost never raises, but calls to see the flop way too often. I think part of the problem is my league is comprised of PhD students in a chemistry department. We're all a little OCD in one way or another (have to be in our field), and he's constantly calculating pot odds. The problem is, he's incredibly slow at math (at least compared to the rest of us) or wants to know his odds to the 4th decimal place or something, and just keeps glancing back and forth between the pot and his cards (which we keep reprimanding him for holding on his lap or against his chest where no one can see them; another reason people sometimes act out of turn when he's in the hand).

Originally Posted by Stapes41

In general we find that using two decks (shuffle behind) keeps the game moving nicely and if people get up for smoke break, etc. they need to have the courtesy to say "muck me"...we don't want to immediately muck someone if they are only getting up to take a leak or grab a drink.

I can't agree more! Forgot to mention, back-shuffling is definitely the way to go. Before the slow guy joined, we were getting several orbits per 15-20 minute level with back-shuffling. And if someone leaves the table for any reason (other than when I have to attend to the computer to bust someone out), their cards get mucked. That's rare, as we have breaks every 1.5 hours or so. A bigger problem is the smokers tend not to get back from break on time, but we give some leeway.

[Strange]

Originally Posted by beekeeper

hand automatically mucked if you're not at your seat when it's your turn to act

I would have assumed that this is standard. Sure as hell is at my place. We don't abuse it, so if somone is just about to sit down, or has just e-entered the room and is obviously hurrying to sit down, we delay for the few seconds it takes them to act.

I actually like this rule from the other angle as well. I know that if I'm in the kitchen talking to someone, I can carry on the conversation knowing that my cards are being folded for me, I'm being blinded etc, without getting back to the table to be met by a bunch of pissed off players waiting for me to act.

[800over]

To speed things up:

1. Ya gotta have 2 decks. Have the BB shuffle the extra deck each hand. (you'll sometimes get complaints...like when you introduced those slippery "plastic" cards, but it'll stick after a week or two. (you'll get more hands in and you'll get more support from the rocks waiting for the big hands, which actually will reduce the suckouts and complaining)

2. Designated dealer. Put someone in the centre of the table who knows how to deal and who is decisive enough to control the game. They can still play (most players can still play and deal)

3. Hand is mucked if you are not in front of your cards when the last card is dealt.....ie before it is even his turn to act. ( see the plastic cards comment in #1)

4. Feel free to call the clock. When facing no action and preflop a decision shouldn't take more than 25 seconds. Calling the clock is perfectly reasonable and is legal. It should be part of your poker repetoire (in fact the more free your guests are to use it....the less they will have to!)

5. Start on time! Don't be lax about the start time. When people show up and they've already missed 4 hands (and you tell them they had rockets in the big blind) they'll be more prompt. Don't wait and complain....just deal the f*&%ing cards. Be fair the the people who showed up on time.

6. Discourage people who aren't in the hand from talking to the people in the hand. Ask them about their new lawn mower/dog/hernia after they've folded.

7. Turn the the volume off on the TV. The most difficult....if you're really serious about taking too much time. During the playoffs you'll get 3 of the seven people at your table turning aroung with each roar of the crowd for the hockey/basketball/football/baseball game (Yes i live in Canada Hockey is the bane of a fast poker game). Turning your chair around to watch TV should be treated the same as #3. This rule should be adjusted according to your invite. If you say come on over and play some poker and watch the Mavs roll over to the Warriors then act accordingly.

8. When enforcing 1-7 don't "discuss", you'll have more success if you just enforce the rule. "Hurry up or we'll call the clock" isn't as effective as "Clock. You have 30 seconds or your hand is dead". If people have a problem have them see rule 9.

9. All decisions are final and are not subject to crying, whining or appeal.


The rules sound draconian....but they'll prevent under the breath bitching and people who general shoot murderous looks at slow playing players.

[RTBrandy]

I've recently started the follwing...........

the 4 or five guys in the middle of the table are dedicated dealers (the 4 or 5 guys in the 'wings' are dedicated shufflers (reduces misdeals, exposed cards, etc)

Voluntarily reduced rabbit hunting

if your butt is not in your seat when it's your turn, you're folded....no more..."he's in the head, give him a minute...."

it's working out well, I think