poker and morals? What would you do?

Walking into my weekly invite game. Plays big there is a full kill, and its a mixed game, we play horse plus crazy pineapple. I have talked about this game before, there are no soft seats among the weely regulars. Occasionally a seat opens and we see a tourist or someone fill the spot.

My wie has a friend who is engaged. Ive met the guy a few times and he is nice enough. Between the parking garage, and the casino is a mall. I run into this guy, and while we are getting caught up he explains that he is there to purchase the rings, and is expecting his fiance to meet him in an hour. He asks where I'm headed. I tell him I'm going to play poker, he says great I'll join you. Umm...ok whatever.

He proceeds to lose at the fastest rate possible. I soon realize that this person has a very unhealty relationship with gambling. I have seen gambling addiction a few times, and this had all of the ear marks.

I could already hear it. My wife yelling at me for bringing this guy in over his head, while he was being a good boy waiting for his fiance. How dare I take advantage of this guy, and bring him into that game with those people etc.

So I got heads up with him, made a move at the flop with the up and down nuts. Turn my cards face up, bet, and tell him it is time for him to go.
In other words I just kicked the fish out of the game...


What do you all think?

Bill

He's going to lose his money to someone eventually, that someone may as well be you. Poker is by it's nature not a very "moral" game, and one would do best to leave their emotions and sense of morality at the door before walking in to play a game, to avoid thinking things like "wow this guy looks pretty poor, I hope I'm not taking the money he needs for food next week" or suchlike.

It's not like you evilly coaxed him into the game or anything either.

I think you saved yourself a knucklebusting by your wife.

While people will argue that you could have taken his money because it's the name of the game. There is a moral cut-off point, and I think you had it at perfect perspective. Especially nice your playing with friends.

Our home tournaments and ring games have a 10 dollar buy in for the tourneys and a max of 20 dollars for the ring games.
Because we are all students this stops any of us from putting to much in, and we have some pretty intense gamblers in our group.

Your a good man for what ya did.

I admire you for not taking advantage of the guy, and basically giving him a wake-up call before some other shark came along and dealt the final blow.

However, the part about your wife being pissed: he is a grown man, is he not? You can't be responsible for his lack of control. My husband and I had a friend of this sort. He is no longer allowed (by his wife's rule) to set foot in any casino on pain of divorce. We once saw him blow an entire pay-check in a matter of a few hours at the local Indian casino, despite many attempts by my husband and I trying to get him to leave and to remind him of the certain doom that was waiting for him at home once he had to came clean w/ the Mrs.

yeh you did a good thing m8.its sad to see someone who can,t learn when to throw in the towel,these guys a crying out for someone to tell it to them straight.

I think your intentions were right Bill, but it was very patronising and not to say humilitating to treat him like that in my opinion.

Re getting told off by your wife, if she thinks that you conned some sucker into a game to fleece him, then you've got every right to be pissed with her.

(PS , I don't know live game procedure, but if you turn your cards over before you bet, haven't you mucked?).

(PPS - It's hallmarks, not earmarks!!! )

I hope he still had money left to buy the ring? Because his girl friend most likely is going to kill him before they married.

Only when there are personal ties! You did the right thing. Friends and money don't mix and of course the consequences at home would probably have been unbearable!