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POKER TOURNAMENT RULES QUESTIONS & DISCUSSIONS => Poker TDA Rules & Procedures Questions, General => Topic started by: W0lfster on July 03, 2011, 10:11:46 AM

Title: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: W0lfster on July 03, 2011, 10:11:46 AM
As I can see, from looking through the Summit on video I am still debating what the rule or proposed rule is on substantial action as decribed at the Summit. My guess is that if on the

flop for example the SB checks and the BB is skipped and the UTG checks as does UTG+1 and UTG+2 does this mean the player does not have a dead hand because there was no

aggressive action (bet or raise) after the skipped bb?

Please, as many examples as you can would be much appreciated,

Thank you :)
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 03, 2011, 03:58:21 PM
I will give you the new definition of substantial action; Two bets involving chips (bet and a call or a bet and a raise) or any three actions (bet, fold, call.... bet, fold, fold- or bet, fold, raise- or check, bet, fold ....or 3 checks ...etc). I will not get into any situations right now because there are far too many to list.

SUBSTANTIAL ACTION: Two bets involving chips, or any three actions.

*I changed an incorrect example after Wolfster brought it to my attention.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: W0lfster on July 03, 2011, 05:25:02 PM
Arrr ok, thanks Nick its cleared my head a bit. However, when you say 'bet call fold' doesnt the bet and the call just count as substantial action anyway?

I am also confused as to what makes a dead hand with substantial action and what makes a player still have live cards but can only call or fold if they have not stopped the action in time

with substantial action.

From what I have gathered from the summit, am I right in saying if there is a bet, call or a bet, raise or a call, call does this mean the player's hand is dead if he/she hasnt called attention

before 2 players have acted after the skipped player?

I looked in RROP that somewhere it says, you can stop the action by calling "time", please explain what this is thank you.

Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 03, 2011, 06:51:45 PM
Yes it does, my mistake. The second part of your question was not really clear to me at the summit. IMO it takes more than substantial action to kill a hand. If a player is skipped and substantial action takes place before it is discovered, the action returns to the skipped player and he can only fold or call. There was quite a bit of debate on that one, so I guess we'll have to wait. I am not in favor of killing a player's hand unless the next round begins. By that I mean the dealer burns and turns, and then it is noticed. There was some confusion in a similar situation that was discussed at the summit, and I believe it was not really related to the subject of substantial action but should have been defined as premature dealing. The question was related to the dealer acting too soon, before the last player called. If that happens, the card that was prematurely turned by the dealer can not stay on the board (even if the skipped player decides to fold). Substantial action never took place in that situation.

Wolfster, IMO the biggest problem with most of these situations is determining who is the offending player?
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: JasperToo on July 03, 2011, 10:50:26 PM
My understanding of the substantial action debate at the summit is that a player who faces action (for instance the UTG player preflop) who is skipped and then allows substantial to occur before calling attention to the skip loses his right to act on the hand and his hand is dead BECAUSE he was facing action before he was skipped.

A player who was not facing a bet (post flop, the SB or a later player who was checked to but didn't actually check himself, thus skipped) would be allowed to act PASSIVELY when it gets back around to him.  This bit is mostly because if he is shooting an angle you would never really be able to prove it because all he as to say is "Oh, I checked too"....

Nick I think the thing that came out of this was that the onus for paying attention is on BOTH players so that the skipped player could lose his hand but that we, as TD's should be dispensing penalties to the OOT player as well.  And be clear that the successive actors are not really playing out of turn as is the first player to the left of the skipped player.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 04, 2011, 06:03:34 AM
There was mention of adding a "procedure guide" (for lack of a different wording), for dealers to follow. A good dealer should prevent any OOT action from occuring, thus eliminating substancial action.

IMO, the summit cleared-up the conflicting understanding of the number of players that acted after the skipped player that is required to be considered "substantial action" (or significent action). There was always debate whether it was at least two, or three. At the summit, it is my understanding that they settled on two. There was also mention of the dealer being considered as one of the "players" in certain situations, but that was not clearly stated as to whether that would be written into the definition of substantial action. I will not get into anything until the TDA announces the "new" definition.

 Jasper, what you are saying is still too vague. Every situation could be different. Why was the player skipped? Why didn't the dealer stop the OOT bettor? Why didn't the skipped player speak-up? Was he hiding his cards intentionally?

Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: JasperToo on July 08, 2011, 08:21:31 AM
There was mention of adding a "procedure guide" (for lack of a different wording), for dealers to follow. A good dealer should prevent any OOT action from occuring, thus eliminating substancial action.  You are right about this, but it still happens

IMO, the summit cleared-up the conflicting understanding of the number of players that acted after the skipped player that is required to be considered "substantial action" (or significent action). There was always debate whether it was at least two, or three. At the summit, it is my understanding that they settled on two. No they settled on THREE or TWO depending on if it involved chips.  So TWO actions involving CHIPS or THREE actions.  There was also mention of the dealer being considered as one of the "players" in certain situations, but that was not clearly stated as to whether that would be written into the definition of substantial action. Yes, I remember you brought this up, but as I recall the general consensus was that while a good dealer should be signaling the end of action he should not be considered part of the actionI will not get into anything until the TDA announces the "new" definition.

 Jasper, what you are saying is still too vague. Every situation could be different. Why was the player skipped? Why didn't the dealer stop the OOT bettor? Why didn't the skipped player speak-up? Was he hiding his cards intentionally? You are implying that if a player is simply skipped do to no malice on his part that your decision would be different than if you could demonstrate that he was somehow being sneaky.  The what I heard at the summit was that if a player got skipped he was skipped regardless of the reason, he needs to pay attention, and if he was facing action before he was skipped - dead hand - if he was not facing action before he was skipped - he can still call or fold.  This actually makes decisions much easier for the TD as it puts it on both players.  Now all the TD has to do is give out a penalty to the OOT player


Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 08, 2011, 09:08:31 AM
Jaspertoo,
That's exactly what I'm saying. Are you saying, that a player deliberately hiding his cards, or intentionally letting the action pass him by, should be handled the same as a player that is skipped by an OOT bettor or the dealer? This is what rule #1 is for. We better wait for the final draft on this one because I'm very interested on how the rule will be written that kills a players hand when an out of turn bettor and the dealer pass him by.


Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: WSOPMcGee on July 10, 2011, 07:40:00 PM
I will give you the new definition of substantial action; Two bets involving chips (bet and a call or a bet and a raise) or any three actions (bet, fold, call.... bet, fold, fold- or bet, fold, raise- or check, bet, fold ....or 3 checks ...etc). I will not get into any situations right now because there are far too many to list.

SUBSTANTIAL ACTION: Two bets involving chips, or any three actions.

*I changed an incorrect example after Wolfster brought it to my attention.

Nick,

Not sure if this is what was decided (wasn't there the 2nd day)...  but your description of the rule is not what I suggested. I said two actions involving chips. Very different from what you're suggesting. I'll have to check with Matt/Dave/Linda/Jan and see what was actually decided.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: WSOPMcGee on July 10, 2011, 08:34:49 PM
I will give you the new definition of substantial action; Two bets involving chips (bet and a call or a bet and a raise) or any three actions (bet, fold, call.... bet, fold, fold- or bet, fold, raise- or check, bet, fold ....or 3 checks ...etc). I will not get into any situations right now because there are far too many to list.

SUBSTANTIAL ACTION: Two bets involving chips, or any three actions.

*I changed an incorrect example after Wolfster brought it to my attention.

Nick,

Not sure if this is what was decided (wasn't there the 2nd day)...  but your description of the rule is not what I suggested. I said two actions involving chips. Very different from what you're suggesting. I'll have to check with Matt/Dave/Linda/Jan and see what was actually decided.

Alright here goes....... to be clear.

Substantial action is: Two actions involving chips (#1 a check and a bet, #2 a bet and a fold, #3 a bet and a call, #4 a bet and a raise) OR 3 actions (3 checks, 3 folds).
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 11, 2011, 01:42:34 AM
Thomas,
  Are you saying that your examples #1 and #2 are substantial action? How is a check and a bet two actions involving chips? Or a bet and a fold? On the contrary, if you are correct, this is far more confusing than it ever was. Two players putting chips into the pot, after a player is skipped, is substantial action. The way I understand it is, if a player bets (after the skipped player), and the next player folds, another player must act. Period. If you are right, it's not clear at all.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: WSOPMcGee on July 11, 2011, 06:20:53 AM
Thomas,
  Are you saying that your examples #1 and #2 are substantial action? How is a check and a bet two actions involving chips?
Because there are two actions: #1 check (that's an action), #2 bets (that's the 2nd action).
Quote
Or a bet and a fold?
Again because there are two actions: #1 a Bet (that's an action), #2 a fold (that's an action).

In addition, in each example, one of those two actions has chips involved. That's 2 actions involving chips. That makes it substantial.

Also, I'm not referring to Wolfster's question about skipped players. I'm just reiterating what substantial action is and how TDA is going to define it per the summit.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: JasperToo on July 11, 2011, 12:16:09 PM
I am not sure that I agree with wsopmcgee's interpretation of the rule but the rule as he stated it is the one I heard at the summit.  2 actions involving chips or 3 actions.  He is saying that if just 1 action involves chips then a subsequent action (or previous action I suppose) would constitute the second and, therefore, substantial action. 

When I read the rule as stated above I would interpret it as two actions with chips:  so a bet and a call, bet and a raise, a raise and a re-raise.  Or three actions, which would be a bet, fold, fold.  Check, bet, fold. check check bet, check check check, check bet call (which actually fits both scenarios of definitions).  So it will be interesting to see if there are any examples with the new rule and subsequent debate.

Nick, yes.  I am saying that a guy who purposefully hides his cards and lets the action go by would end up with the same decision as a guy who was accidentally skipped because he was not paying attention or those three checks went by so fast he may not have had time.  Life is a bitch, visual game, pay attention.  The poor guy that wasn't paying attention will start after the first time his hand is killed (again, only if he was facing a bet when the action past him - and surely if he or the dealer is yelling time as the third guy is checking we don't have to count the third action).  The guy that is shooting an angle by hiding his cards is going to get a dead hand if he was facing action or have a small advantage by seeing the action before it gets to him if he was not.  Remember the guy that was not paying attention also gets that advantage if he was not facing action.  So, I think it is very balanced and makes it easy for a TD to make a clear, explainable, supported decision.  The other side of this is the penalty to the OOT player.  As those are dispensed more often in those situations you all of a sudden have everybody paying attention to the action.  we may lose a couple hands an hour because of it but that is worth it to have people act in turn.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 11, 2011, 12:56:11 PM
 I'd really like to hear from Jan, or Matt, or Linda, or Dave on this one. How do you figure that a check and a bet, are two actions involving chips? Wow, just when I thought I knew what substantial action was, you throw this at me.

 As far as all this talk about "angle shooters," get rid of them. If your dealer doesn't know how many players are in the hand, I would think that one of the players would speak up if a player is skipped. Jasper....you really play where players hide their cards? Let me tell you something. If you have a compitent dealer in the box, you won't have to worry about any of this. Substantial action would be non-existent.

  Jasper, three checks went by so fast? First of all, the first player that checked (out of turn) was the offender that induced the next player to bet, and then you can look to the idiot dealer and the skipped player. We can't have rules that contradict each other. If I'm in a hand, I know who's in the hand with me.

 Clarity is what we are looking for. Will someone please clear this up?
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: JasperToo on July 11, 2011, 01:26:42 PM
Well, I don't think I have seen anybody actually going out of their way to 'hide' cards but a fair number of players like to have their cards close to the rail or on the "wrong" side of their chip stack.  Could this be meant to hide the cards?  Maybe, but the result is the same.

Yes, the first OOT is the offender and needs to be penalized!  This rule does not at all contradict itself or another rule.  What do you see as the contradiction?
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 12, 2011, 05:57:57 AM
After looking over what Thomas wrote. If he is correct then I think we need to work on the wording. I think this is what Thomas is saying. SUBSTANTIAL ACTION: Two out of turn players acting, with one or both putting chips in the pot, or any actions by three players. I thought that the definition was two OOT players (both) putting chips in the pot or any three actions, (even three checks). Hopefully the new verbiage wil clear it up.

 
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 12, 2011, 09:09:36 AM
Thomas,
 On day two, the question was put to matt regarding whether a check and a bet was considered substantial action and he said, and I quote "NO, a bet and a call is two actions with chips."                      
                            
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: JasperToo on July 12, 2011, 01:09:25 PM
Nick, I believe your interpretation is correct.  At least, it's the one that I have.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: WSOPMcGee on July 13, 2011, 07:52:02 AM
I am not sure that I agree with wsopmcgee's interpretation of the rule but the rule as he stated it is the one I heard at the summit.  2 actions involving chips or 3 actions.  He is saying that if just 1 action involves chips then a subsequent action (or previous action I suppose) would constitute the second and, therefore, substantial action. 

When I read the rule as stated above I would interpret it as two actions with chips:  so a bet and a call, bet and a raise, a raise and a re-raise.  Or three actions, which would be a bet, fold, fold.  Check, bet, fold. check check bet, check check check, check bet call (which actually fits both scenarios of definitions).  So it will be interesting to see if there are any examples with the new rule and subsequent debate.
Well it could be that I'm the one interpreting it differently.... however, at least I know what I was thinking when I suggested we keep the wording as is.

At the summit, the vote was going to be strictly 2 actions or 3 actions. Period. Whether or not involving chips. If you were going to phrase it as Nick is interpreting, than you would say "Two actions BOTH involving chips". But it's not defined that way. It's defined as "Two actions (meaning any action) involving chips." You are confusing the use of chips (plural) as meaning both actions. Chips is not referring to the actions. It is referring to the wager. Perhaps "Two actions involving a bet" makes more sense, but the phrase "Involving chips" has been an accepted one for a long time.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 13, 2011, 08:30:30 AM
Thomas,
 There is nothing wrong with your interpretation, except the way it was worded. The less actions the better as far as I'm concerned. I actually prefer yours but, that's not the way it is. The definition I gave should make it clear: SUBSTANTIAL ACTION....Action from two players, both putting chips into the pot  (ie.bet and call, or bet and raise), Or any three players acting, after a skipped player.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: W0lfster on July 19, 2011, 03:06:29 AM
I have to go along with Thomas, although I see where Nick and Jasper are coming from, as TD's you really have to make a decision based on the wording rather than your initiative on what you might think the answer might be. As far as I see it, a bet and a fold, the fold is still an action and because there was already a bet it should therefore mean the player's hand is dead if he/she does not call attention to it when the 3rd player is to act. Thats my opinion, again I would love to here from Jan also, she seemed to be very keen to talk about the rule at the summit so I think we need to wait for her word on this.

BTW, if you are second from the cut off seat with everyone cheking except one player (second from cut off) and his action is skipped to the cut off who checks and the dealer checks lets say on the flop, when the dealer deals the turn, is that action resulting in a dead hand? Or does he have to wait until the small blind checks or bets again on the turn?

If there was a bet on the flop and you are the CUT OFF and it is skipped to the button and he calls and theres a turn card is that a dead hand also?
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 19, 2011, 04:52:03 AM
Wolfster,
 If what Matt defined substantial action to be on day two of the summit is what they want., it should be easy enough to word correctly. There are only two possible scenarios: either: 1.) bet, call.... or 2.) bet, raise.
 If it is any two actions, involving at least one bettor, it could only be: 1.) check, bet....2.) bet, call....3.) bet, fold...or.....4.) bet, raise.....Of course, any three actions is substantial, also.
 I don't agree with your statement when you talk of killing the hand because substantial action took place after the skipped player. I think we need to wait for the official rule before we debate this further. I would also not object to the dealer being considered as one of the persons, if they condone the OOT action.

 I would like to address your questions about the cut-off and second from the cut-off, but I have a tough time following that description. How about, the number of players in the hand, who's bet  (by seat #), in relation to the button. If I do understand you, I think that would be "premature dealing" as oppossed to "substantial action."

 By the way, I actually like Thomas's rule. I always thought that any two actions is substantial. However, that is not the way it was worded.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: JasperToo on July 19, 2011, 06:35:26 AM
I would like to hear Jan chime in too, after the rule is officially out.  I am pretty sure she and Matt both had the same opinion about two things on this rule:

1. two actions involving chips = each action would involve a chips NOT two actions and one involves chips..

2. If a player FACES a bet when he gets skipped and the action is substantial THEN the hand is killed. -  If a player does NOT face a bet when he is skipped and the action is substantial then he would have the option to call or fold ( I believe they would not give him an option to raise.)

I thought this topic was pretty clear after the discussion at the summit, surprised to see it still has a little debate.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 19, 2011, 05:57:18 PM
Jasper,
 I'm sorry but, I don't understand your response on #2. What do you mean, if a player faces a bet? Would you explain what you mean about when not facing a bet? You think the topic is pretty clear. I don't. When a player is skipped, and substantial action takes place, I thought that the player could only call or fold when the action returned to them. How does a skipped player, not face a bet? I have never killed a player's hand when action passed him by unless the next card was dealt, or the next round began and they were not in for all bets.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: JasperToo on July 19, 2011, 08:28:40 PM
Yes I can explain it.  You say you have never killed a skipped players hand and the interesting thing is that killing the hand was a large part of the discussion that Jan and Michael were involved in.

A player faces a bet in two ways: preflop he faces the forced bet of the big blind.  Post flop a player faces a bet when someone bets in front of him. 

Now post flop a player could theoretically NOt be facing a bet if he is first to act or the action is checked to him.

So in the first case, if a player who faces a bet is skipped, then if substantial action has occurred after him, his hand would be dead (this is what I heard Savage say and what I thought was intended and right).

in the second case, where a player does not face a bet if he is skipped and substantial action occurs after him, he will have the option to call or fold when action returns to him.  The theory here is that the skipped player simply has to say "Oh, I checked" and we can't know better.  In the first case, the skipped player has no excuse.

Yes, this puts a lot on the skipped player, but if we penalize the OOT player then it's all fair.

And, apparently it is a topic clear in my own mind :)
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 20, 2011, 08:16:03 AM
Jasper,
 What about the player, post flop, that is first to act (not really facing a bet), but is skipped by a bet and a call, or a bet and an instant raise? You're going to kill the skipped players hand? No, I've never done that. I never killed a player's hand, when the offending player was the out of turn bettor.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: JasperToo on July 20, 2011, 12:59:44 PM
You wouldn't have to kill the player's hand in that situation.  He is not facing a bet, so when the action gets back to him he would have the option to call or fold... so it's not a problem.  We are only talking about killing a hand if the player that was skipped is facing a bet when the skip occurred...
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 20, 2011, 02:52:56 PM
Jasper,
 You might be right when you say it is clear in your own mind, but I don't get it. If I don't understand what a rule is supposed to convey, how can I enforce it, or teach it?

IMO, substantial action can only be initiated by the OOT player, that skips the proper bettor. There is very little discussion about stopping substantial action before it gets that far. All I hear of is; players can not retract their bets when a bet is made (out of turn). Linda mentioned it at the summit, and I am curious how that will be worked into the new rule.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Ricky9 on July 20, 2011, 06:26:47 PM
FWIW I agree with Jasper, if a player is paying attention it is easy to know if he is facing a bet as chips will be in the pot, if a player behind even moves to put chips in, the missed player should call time. If time is not called I think hand should be dead. Not facing a bet is slightly more forgivable, therefore if a couple of players insta check after then hand should be passive not killed.

However, after watching the summit I believe the agreement on the rule is that action will be rolled back to missed player if substantial action has not taken place or passive if substantial action has taken place.

I do have an argument against that though, in a 6 max or final stages of a comp is this rule still acceptable when the missed player can effectively know the potential action of over 50% of the table? Going to the extreme if 3 players are left in a comp (post flop(lets say the dealer is a numpty)) and indicates to the BB that it is his action first (checks) and UTG (checks) whilst the SB is tipping the waitress .... it is rolled back and the SB has all options open?
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: JasperToo on July 20, 2011, 06:28:18 PM
You're right, Nick, about there being little discussion about stopping the action.  I think that is because the assumption is that we are always supposed to act in turn as a player, or control the action as a dealer.  If that happened we wouldn't need any rule at all about a skipped player.  So for the purposes of this rule we have to assume that everybody failed at there jobs and now we have to do something about it.

I am with you though, everybody needs to watch the action and stop it before it goes too far if someone is skipped, I think that would include other players at the table.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Nick C on July 20, 2011, 06:38:03 PM
Good points are brought up as examples. I like that we are at least considering backing up the action to the proper player. Ricky9, I'm not sure I know what a numpty dealer is but, I'm sure I sat at their tables. I think, with good dealers, and players that pay attention to the action, skipped players should not be a problem.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: Linda Johnson on July 29, 2011, 04:54:01 PM
Hi Everyone,
I'm sorry we haven't responded sooner. I've been out of the country for two weeks. We are very near to getting the final version of the 2011 completed. Here is what we are looking at regarding the definition of substantial action:
Substantial Action. Substantial Action is defined as any two actions involving two players putting chips in the pot (bet, raise, or call), or any combination of three actions (check, bet, raise, call, or fold).  Comments welcome, as always.
Linda Johnson
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: JasperToo on July 30, 2011, 06:23:04 PM
Thanks Linda!  That definition fits perfectly with what I heard at the summit.

I like that you clarified it by saying two players putting chips in the pot instead of just two actions involving chips. 

Looking forward to the rest of the rule set to see how the rest of the changes came out.
Title: Re: TDA summit 2011 - Substantial action question
Post by: W0lfster on August 28, 2011, 07:20:20 PM
Forgive me for my questions but I am confused about the calling TIME bit. When do you use it and what is it for? Do you actually say time?