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 he Guardian Poker Column |
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| Victoria
Coren |
| Thur 23 Apr 2009 |
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The
other night, in a live cash game, I managed to get it all in with the Ah Qs
against the 4c 5c on a flop of 5s Ac Kc. I lost the pot, but this is not a
bad-beat story. The hands are 50/50. It would have been unremarkable were it
not for the fact that my opponent immediately got up and went home.
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A cop and hop! The whole table shivered
with disapproval and barbed comments were made. If you are used to the internet
(where getting up immediately after a significantly profitable hand is not just
acceptable but advisable), be warned that this is considered foul play in a
live game.
But what a curious tradition. The idea is that it's
"sporting" to give opponents "a chance to win it back". So what? There is no
pretence that poker is about hoping other people win. Check-raising and making
misleading comments (both once banned, then frowned upon) are now welcomed as
part of the general trickery of the game. We are there to take each other's
money. If you let your opponent win something back, it would be considered
cheating. Essentially, then, you're just supposed to make a show of it. Like
saying, "How are you?" to an acquaintance when you don't really care. Or
replying "Fine, thank you" when you're riddled with pox or near-suicidal from
heartbreak.
So, I advise you of this old-fashioned cash game etiquette
on the understanding that it is groundless, illogical and silly. Nevertheless,
in our funny little country where the same applies to almost every other piece
of etiquette, that is just what I love about it.
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