Sitting Out

[AA88Joe]

I saw this some where, what do you think is correct?

Because this just recently happened to me, I've been thinking about whether poker players should offer the courtesy of waiting for someone that has just sat out in a tournament.

Now, this obviously doesn't apply to a full table, but really only to heads-up play. If, for some reason other than disconnecting internet, should you wait for your opponent if he/she unexpectedly sits out during heads-up play?

Strangely enough, this has happened twice in the past few days to me. I've made it to heads-up in an SnG, and mid-way through playing, my opponent times-out on a play and then sits out.

Should I extend the courtesy of basically sitting out myself to wait for my opponent? I think this would be asking a lot of me, especially since we are playing poker for money. Also, its heads-up, so we have hit the bigger payouts. There is a significant difference between first and second, and no one ever wants to lose.

Also something to take into consideration is my time. If my opponent expects me to wait for him, he has to consider that I am wasting more time for someone I don't know and never will know.

And finally, these have come in turbo SnGs, so with increasing blinds, luck is more heavily relied upon. I almost always feel like I'm a better poker player than the people I play against (at least at these limits), so I want to end it at smaller blinds where I can outplay them rather than getting forced into an all-in or fold match.

To be honest, both times my opponent has sat out, I have taken advantage of it. Is this such a bad thing? I feel as if its almost the same as taking advantage of a weak player that you can basically take money right away from.

The first person this happened to said after the game "thanks for a fair game." If I remember correctly, I was a bit ahead in chips when he sat out, and came back with about 2000 remaining (losing maybe 3500 total). I quickly won after he came back. I don't consider it an unfair game because it seemed like he willingly sat out. Had he disconnected would be completely different, but he didn't.
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[HEAVYMETLZ]

Depends. If they tell you they will be right back in 10 min or less I say wait.
However, if they don't (usually you would know if they got disconnected) then.....go for it...play....since they did not have the courtesy to tell you they are leaving for a few minutes (brb)....

[Dierks]

Unfair? No way! You are playing online poker, disconnections, etc. are unfortunate, but they are a given when playing online. I'm not waiting for anyone unless they asked me to. It's heads-up and I am taking your chips, period!

[Voodoo]

Originally Posted by AA88Joe

I saw this some where, what do you think is correct?


To be honest, both times my opponent has sat out, I have taken advantage of it. Is this such a bad thing? I feel as if its almost the same as taking advantage of a weak player that you can basically take money right away from.

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I doubt you'll find anyone that will honestly say they didn't take advantage of it. Alot of it is the anonymity of the internet and not seeing the person face to face or ever again online. I have been in that situation at times from both ends of the spectrum and it was either him/her getting my chips or the reverse.

[silverstone]

if im sitting in a live game heads up against someone who leaves the table the dealer isn't going to wait so niether am i :(

[Voodoo]

Originally Posted by silverstone

if im sitting in a live game heads up against someone who leaves the table the dealer isn't going to wait so niether am i :(

LOL I saw that in a SitnGo last summer at Niagara for a WPT seat, one guy couldn't wait for a break and had to hit the bathroom and sprinted out of the pokerroom. The other player was urging the dealer to deal as quick as he could to so he could grab the blinds. It was funny as hell.

[Fatalist]

I don't wait and wouldn't ever wait. It is part of the online poker realm. I suggest the disconnecters to get a better ISP.

[Penny]

Well I don't play live poker but I am the best sitout at online poker so don't mock it. I reg. for all TRR's freerolls when I can and then I sitout .... not doing bad that way. Doyle's gave me 10c for all my trouble the other night.

Live games ... I agree that is not good.

[duster]

I think the OP's signature line says it all .

Happens to all of us. If they are sitting and blinding through it's just an advantage for you. It's like checking with the nuts, and how often do you do that?

Poker is a zero sum game, whoever ends with the most chips or money wins. I'm not trying to advocate cheating, but it's not cheating to raise and take blinds. That's well within the rules.

[dwolfg]

Take his/her chips and enjoy them.