Eating at the poker table: should it be allowed, or not?

KUN_AGUERO_KROOS

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gardin555

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I think there are breaks to do that. 🍗 🍔
Eating or seeing eating takes us away from the concentration in a poker table, but I think it is fine to have a drink while we play, coffee or water to hydrate.🍸☕ 🧉
 
Emily Trott

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I don't have a problem with it and have seen it done many times. It is done not on the table but from a little tray set up next to the player. Sometimes I'll snack on a bag of cashews or walnuts, but I've never eaten regular food because I like to enjoy my meal and doing it at a poker table would be a distraction from the food. Last month however I saw another player being given two grilled hot dogs in grilled rolls. I love them and almost ordered a pair for myself, but I decided that they would be messy to eat, and would get the cards greasy. I decided that when I was knocked out of the tourney I'd have some in the bar. :)
 
userX

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I don't want my opponents to eat during the game because it can distract me. I'm not selfish, but I'm against it.
 
lauestla

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It depends on the context.
When I am in a live game with friends, we often eat candies or small cookies while playing because it's a friendly game.

But I would not eat while playing in a casino (even if snacking at a poker table is sometimes allowed) and I would not like other players at the table to do it. Two reasons to that:
- Seeing an opponent eat at the table could disturb concentration.
- It could be an opportunity for cheating by marking cards .
And moreover during a live event the breaks are generally long enough to have a snack.
So, except in case of medical reasons like diabetis for example, I think eating at a poker table should not be allowed.
 
G0930

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Shouldn't be allowed ...Nobody at the table should need to endure any smell and eating habits of people.
Most big tournaments have a dinner break over an hour . Eat there ^^
 
Edu1

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I think it shouldn't, but people do anyway- most players don't care or are afraid to talk to not do 😂
phil-hellmuth-eating.gif
 
markdias

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I think it's very rude to eat at the poker table, and also a lack of respect for those present, only drinks should be allowed and in moderation!
 
Pokerpoet2

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Depends on how Hungry you are, I was late leaving for a Tournament in Coventry one year as I had a Doctors appointment on the same day I was going to travel, After seeing the Doctor I got back in my car and drove for about 3 hours to the Casino, just throwing my bag into my room and straight down to the Poker room to register and buy-in to a game the night before my main event.
As I had not stopped to eat before I got to the casino, I ordered a Sandwich just to eat at the table but this was the 1st time I ever ate during a game, I apologised to the players, but I was starving. Unfortunately I bubbled that game and did exactly the same in the main event the following day.
Maybe I just should have waited.
 
Roobz75

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I don't think it should be allowed. Only water in a closed container or a sweet/candy is acceptable.
When I play live league, some of the players buy and eat crisps, peanuts, even sandwiches, then handle the cards with dirty hands from smelly food.
This isn't something that I want to be subject to.
There are breaks in Poker. That's the time to eat your picnics!!
 
GERSteven

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Like in the wild west, just whiskey, cigarettes and poker, nothing else.:ROFLMAO:

To be honest, it doesn't bother me at all personally but to please everyone I think a drink and a piece of chewing gum or candy is enough for everything else there are breaks.
 
billibooo

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Well <3 This is a tricky one as I have only played live once and there was no food :p Jerks!

If it was a short tourney and you could play this one without any reasonable hungry pains, then maybe I would say no. BUT there are foods that are clean to eat.

AND if it was a very long tourney...I think food would have to be an option at the tables. Not on the felts, a smaller table underneath. Unless of course there was a buffet set up so everyone could grab a quick bite on break, then it would still be a no for me. I say buffet because if it was a game of 1000 plus entries...it is ridiculously hard to get everyone's food order out unless there was a 2 hour break <3

Clean food I have made to eat at home games, and of course lots of napkins.

First post is of course a sandwich, which was invented because of a card game <3 The Earl of Sandwich wanted to keep his hands clean while playing and that is what his kitchen help came up with <3 Brilliant and you can wrap them for ease and cleanliness of eating :)
Screenshot 359


Appetizers with sticks to eat with <3
Charcuterie sticks 2000 512bdd1d64bb4e7c81869bacede6e15e

You can use those for most Apps fries too <3 perfect for eating when you want to keep your hands clean.

The casino hosting the event will have many professionals in the kitchen that will know many foods they could serve and have ways to prepare the meal to aid in keeping hands clean.

BUT there is nothing we can do for the people who cannot chew properly.....except maybe something like this ;P

Screenshot 2023 10 15 at 09 14 00 feed bag for a horse   Google Search

I will try and keep my post short....as you are now talking about a few of my favourite things, poker, preparing and eating food :p I could go on for hours here :p
 
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Amigodzzz

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In my opinion poker players can be allowed to eat at a poker table but with very clear conditions such as not dirtying the cards with food, and not disturbing the other players with the noise of eating ahahahaha.
but surely The best way to allow players to eat is to allow prized foods like fruit or chocolate bars.
 
LaNimmer

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My local casino does not allow food, drinks, or phone use directly at the table. You can order food and drinks and they will place a table behind you with a liberal amount of wet wipes and napkins. No outside food or drink is allowed in the whole casino. You have to pull away and turn around when using a phone.
 
Alexey Shley

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I think that you can have a snack at the poker table, but these should be sandwiches or buns, but not complete first and second courses. It is not forbidden to drink at the table and many players drink water from a bottle, rarely do players drink hot tea at the table.
 
Argonaut

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I think it's okay to snack on peanuts or pretzels, and things like that. But eating things which are more of a meal should be done away from the table, because it can be messy and gross to others.
 
5TR8 FLUSH

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I don't think eating at the poker table is a problem. I see people eating snacks and soups all the time. Sometimes it may take some people a little longer to act on their turn, but not much.
 
elchonga

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I think there should be a special break request to ask to eat.
It is not common sense to spend many hours suffering from hunger either.
 
23maxim88

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Of course, I have a snack while playing poker because poker sessions can be very long.
 
AndyFio

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I believe that eating at the table can be allowed, but with certain conditions, the main thing is that the smell does not bother other players and it does not look disgusting. You can also introduce a function that a player can eat at the table if all other players are not against it.
 
XYZ2123

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At first, I thought my answer would be yes, eating should be allowed since poker games can go on for days at a time. However, after reading some of the other posts here, they've convinced me that I was wrong. Some reasons to not allow food at the table are:
1. Table and cards can get dirty if food is eaten with hands.
2. Not aesthetically pleasing and distracting for other players (to both eyes and ears).
3. Cards can be marked using certain foods, which opens up opportunities to cheat.
This being said, food breaks should be scheduled into the game since people do need to eat. I also think exceptions can be made for people that need to eat more often due to medical conditions. Drinks and water in resealable bottles should also be allowed.
 
Nafor

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As someone who never plays live I have no comprehensive understanding how eating is arranged in long live tournaments?
It is clear that people need to eat and keep their blood sugar levels up to make rational decisions.
If there are frequent enough pauses in live tournaments then no, eating at the table is a distraction to others, but then again so is talking trash.
Personally I don't mind eating as long as it's not messy or comes with a strong smell. Cold foods are probably better for table eating.

But - it's not my problem. At home I can play and eat as I like.
 
hobojim1247

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My preference is no except for food bars. All other foods tent to be messy and although most people try to be neat and sanitary, there are the slobs who make a mess for all of us to endure. Then there are those who eat with their mouth open, and it is nauseating to listen to someone eat a BLT with mayo with their mouth open. It reminds of how the hogs sounded when I fed them as a kid.
 
seiya1989

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I think it should be allowed, I do not see anything wrong, as long as the person has the necessary manners to eat without disturbing the other players I have no problem
 
maronza1

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Foods that wont make the cards dirty i think they should be eaten, as long as they dont have strong smell. If the tournament is short, players should eat something before playing to avoid getting hungry during the tournament. If the tournament is long, players can eat the food that cannot make the cards dirty so as to avoid cheating.
 
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