Jasper Too,
Good to hear from you. I agree with you when you talk of soft play. That is very serious and offenders should be penalized. I like what you say about every player having equity in a tournament. Whenever we are ready to begin a tournament, I like to make a brief announcement to go over some very basic rules, like; "Please pay attention to a few basic rules, one player to a hand, don't bet or act out of turn and protect your own hand." I guess telling someone that.... checking the nuts on the river will draw a penalty, is something I've never mentioned.
Until it is a written rule, I think that a warning, along with an announcement to all players in the tournament, should prevent it from happening again. Repeat offenders should be penalized.
I have been teaching poker dealers for many years and I always tell them about games with forced bets. Example; SEVEN CARD STUD- the only forced bet in the game is the bring-in. FLOP GAMES- require the blinds...now I shall tell them that if they ever have the "nuts on the river" that they MUST bet when last to act, or raise when last to act, or face a penalty. Make it a rule and I'll deal with it.
Jasper, I think you said it right..."It is simply up to the TD to look at each situation to determine that (or if) soft play was a factor and how much of a penalty, starting with a warning (I like this part), should be given."
I also like what you said about not all players in tournaments are professionals. Wow...you're not kidding. I'm always amazed at some players and how little they know about poker. That is a real good point that you bring up. Nothing like penalizing a new player for checking the nuts, when he just learned that a flush beats a straight!
By the way, I was the one that said, "I don't remember the last time I had a hand like that."
Thanks for your feedback