AboutChris Expertise I am a professional poker player and game theory expert. I can answer almost any question related to poker, from your local home game to winning big tournaments or playing at a casino. I am the head cash game instructor at pokerxfactor.com, and I run a site for poker coaches at http://www.foxpoker.com, give lessons (I'm usually booked at least two weeks ahead of time) and I know a little about the online poker affiliate business as well.
Experience I've been playing poker for a living for 4 years, and have written about the subject extensively. I have sold articles to places like twoplustwo.com and Deal magazine, and I write a monthly column called The Online Fox in Poker Pro Magazine and Poker Pro Europe. I run a poker magazine at www.blindstraddle.com and a rakeback site at www.pokerwhip.com.
Education/Credentials I've read the books, talked to the old timers, and done my time at the tables. That's all the education a poker player gets. I own over 100 poker books and have read them all at least once.
Awards and Honors "Best Article" award on pocketfives.com for 2005 for my bankroll management article. All my other "awards" have been in cash, and I've already spent them. Poker isn't about trophies, it's about money.
Many major tournament wins online.
Past/Present clients Too many to list. I run http://wwwfoxpoker.com I also work for PokerXFactor.com as a consultant and fixed-limit Hold Em expert.
Question My question is in a house game. We have a problem with regards to other people other then the dealer tell everyone else cards. Like he needs this or he has that or thoughs cards are dead. What should the deal be calling out when he is dealing the cards and is it okay for other people to be talking about other peoples hands?
Answer Because this is a home game, the house makes the rules, which is one of the problems with home games that aren't playing standardized games along casino and professional poker room rules.
If the dealer is just a different player every hand, then they will not always keep the game under control, and many will not do anything at all because they see it as the house's job to keep things under control. If there is an actual dealer in your home game, who does nto play but is just paid to deal, then that dealer should be keeping things under control.
In general, you will always see people discussing hands when they shouldn't, and it is never under control completely, but it definitely bad etiquette and against the the rules in professional rooms and casinos to discuss a hand that is still taking place if you are not in the hand. You can discuss rules involved, and call the floorman for a clarification, but advising a player how to play or speculating on the hand is definitely against the rules.
Poker is generally played "cards speak" these days, meaning if someone shows down a hand they are credited with the best possible five card hand from that hand, even if they don't see the right hand and announce something lower. In this case the dealer should catch it most of the time, but it is acceptable for other players to correct the player and/or dealer because the misread hand is considered a rules issue with regards to the "cards speak" rule rather than helping the player play his hand.
The dealer only needs to call out whatever is necessary for the play of the hand. He should ask people to post blinds and antes, let the table know when a bet or raise has been made, and any other pertinent information that a player needs to play his hand. He should not provide any advice, just a rules clarification if necessary.
If the game drives you completely nuts, you may want to try playing online where everything is automated and all the rules are followed perfectly. No bad shuffles or misdeals, no one helping anyone play their hand, just poker and lots of it. Check us out at pokerwhip.com if you decide to play online, we can set you up at the right sites where your play is safe and you get rewarded for your play.
