I use to defend the TDA but this backward decision is terrible ...
GG
I 2nd that opinion.
After reading this:
board member Linda Johnson reminded attendees that the TDA doesn’t dictate rules
from the article, one thing stuck out in my mind.... if that's the case, then don't call them TDA Rules. Call them something else. Call them TDA Guidelines.
What I've learned and observed recently in my travels working non-USA tournaments is that many Supervisors and Directors from around the world look to the TDA for guidance and direction. The growth of the congregation for the TDA Summit bears that in itself. The flip-flop on this particular rule is a bad precedent, because you can never go back. It was a good rule for poker and a good rule for staff. The rule had more upside than downside.
I agree with you though Guillaume that a good compromise is to use Last Card during the tournament and First Card during Hand-for-Hand (and in the money). I wrote an op-ed on it 2 yrs ago. I did not know that already do it!
Other observances from the article:
1.
Rule 4: Players should make music and ring and alert tones on electronic devices inaudible to other players
How does this make its way into the TDA rules? This has nothing to do with poker. Absolutely nothing. Its simply an annoyance that occurs at the table and you handle it by simply asking the player with the head banging head phones turned up to 100 db that he needs to turn the volume down. Simple. It doesn't need to be a TDA rule. These are the kind of rules that get the TDA mocked by local directors.
2. Many rules restate rules already in place OR split one rule into 3 or 4 different rules. For example: Rule 37: Split into three separate rules, 37-39: methods of betting, acting in turn and binding declarations and Rule 17: Callers of the last aggressor when betting takes place on the final street have a right to see the aggressor’s hand upon request, if the requesting player still holds or had tabled his cards. Other requests to see cards are at a tournament director’s discretion (which is already a rule). From the article the ones that stick out are - Rules 2, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 22, 27, 36, 60.
3. We stepped into some murky territory by giving ourselves discretion as to how much a bet is if a player says "5", when that can mean 500 or 5,000. This leaves room for some nice angle shooting in the future. GL TD's.
4. Rule 47 (former Rule 44): Pulling back chips already committed to the pot binds a player to call or raise. -> This was not a rule prior. This rule is going to cause much confusion IMO. As soon as a player touches his chips he's auto-calling and may be raising is ludicrous. If I'm a player and I want to raise.... I'm going to do this EVERY TIME. Because, 1) It may induce the other player to turn over their cards, 2) Now I get additional information still, the same as if I was allowed to fold previously, even though that option is not available now. 3) So I can get a read by asking the dealer for change. 4) For additional time which I may have the clock called on me when I know I'm not folding.
Can't wait to see the video now.
