For those of us who play and love this game called poker, almost all have at one time or another played with off-duty dealers at the table. Many owners and managers of casinos and cardrooms have chosen not to allow their dealers to play where they work. Personally it never made a difference to me one way or another … until recently.
In the last few months, on three separate occasions, I had a reason to really think about the pros and cons of dealers playing where they work. In some small cardrooms, often the house needs its dealers to fill in short games. I have even been in some rooms where this is required as part of the employment package for dealers and floor personnel. This can become a problem when the employee loses money in the game and is then expected to give up the seat when the room starts filling up. The dealer and the floorperson are using their own money and have to take the loss if they are running bad. When they are not required to give up the seat, however, it often irritates the player who has to wait. If I were a dealer, I would never work where I was required to gamble in order to fill a game for the house.
On one occasion, when I was seated at a $10-$20 table in a cardroom in Washington, it came to my attention that there was a fair amount of tension between two dealers playing in this particular game (Note: The names in this article are not the dealers’ real names). It seemed that they were angry with one another because when Joe raised before the flop he expected Jim to realize that he had a big hand and fold. Not only did Jim not fold, but he called with a 7-8 offsuit, check-raised on the river, and busted his co-worker. The demeanor of both dealers changed the loose and friendly atmosphere at the table, and some of the players were caught up in the negative situation that arose. In short … this great action game quickly became one that no one wanted to be in any longer. It broke within the next hour as players asked for seat changes to other tables. The other games were relatively smaller stakes, and a few people that were stuck were very upset. Also the words, “I’ll never tip them again” were actually spoken. All players at the table lost in one way or another.
Several days later the second incident took place while I was present. During a very lively $6-$12 hold’em game, one of the house dealers, Jake, had finished his shift and was seated at the table. It was obvious that he was tired and on edge. There was a list for this game, and one of the players asked why he was put ahead of the others on the list. This immediately irritated Jake and a huge attitude was directed at the player asking the question. Our $6-$12 dealer lost control of the game and tried to ignore the four-letter words that started between these two men. Jake became involved in a heads up hand with another player and shook his head, laughed, and commented on the poor starting cards of his opponent as he raked in the pot. He then looked at the dealer and said, “Why didn’t you tell me how easy this game was,” as he threw him one dollar chips.
All conversation stopped at that point and the game became tight and tense. Fortunately for everyone after Jake won another hand, he received a phone call and left. He won about $60, but the way I see it, he really lost. We were told later that he was put into the game because the three people on the list were not in the room when their names were called. The floorperson felt that another player at the table had indicated that he might be leaving and was afraid the game could break. All three players returned and continued to wait. The man that got the sharp edge of Jake’s attitude left 10 minutes later. He said that he probably wouldn’t be back real soon. Every new player seated at this table heard about what a jerk Jake had been.
I mentioned a third occasion and yes … this time it involved me directly! Leaving my home about 5 p.m. I had two things on my mind: dinner and Texas hold’em. When I arrived at my favorite cardroom, I was able to get into a great $6-$12 game after only a 20-minute wait. While waiting for the blinds to pass, I said “hello” to several players I really like to play with. One dealer, J.J., was playing in the game (he had always been one of my favorites). As luck would have it, the poker gods were not smiling down on J.J. He lost two pots before I ever played a hand.
Oops … then I gave him yet another bad beat. His wired aces lost to my jack on the river. His eyes met mine; I kind of put my head down. Sometimes you just wake up with too much gamble in you, and I certainly had. My stack was up and down like a roller coaster, and I was enjoying myself and the game. In fact, all of the players were on the same ride, including J.J. It was a ramming-jamming game and I loved it.
About two hours later it was J.J.’s turn to get me, and he did a great job of it. Three times I flopped a set, and three times he got the miracle card on the river. I looked over at him with one eyebrow arched and said, “That’s three sets J.J.”
Big mistake! J.J. stood up and took each and every beat he had endured out on me. He started reciting every one of them. I was told how ignorant it was for me to call three raises before the flop with wired fours when I only had a two-card out.
What I was thinking was anatomically impossible if you know what I mean. Luckily, I had chips to rack up and take to the cage. This guy really made me angry! If it were just one of the other players I could have handled it. J.J. in my mind, represents the cardroom and his behavior should reflect that. We all have our bad times and sometimes this game we love can bring out our bad side. As of this writing, I haven’t been back to my favorite cardroom.
Maybe tomorrow…
Poker Digest Magazine – Volume 1 Number 4