There are a bunch of conversations going on in the poker world regarding excessively slow play. My buddy Matt Savage recently circulated a survey at a big tournament asking if players wanted a "Shot Clock" -- 30 seconds or so to make your decision or your hand is dead. 80% supported it.
I hate slow play. On the bubble in a tournament, the action grinds to a halt as some players take way too much time in obvious situations.
I like the shot clock, but I fear that it could alienate many novice players. And, what if you really do have a tough problem and need a little extra time?
So, here are two proposals:
1) Clock + 3 Extensions
30 second shot clock, and 3 "Extension Chips" that give a player up to a 2 minute extension for use at any time in the tournament. When a special situation occurs that requires some extra time, the players says "Extension" and throws an Extension Chip to the dealer, effectively buying the extra time.
Extension Extension: Sell the Extension Chips for 1% of the entry fee, with all fees added to the prize pool. Players would have to buy the chips when they registering for the tournament.
And, another more off the wall proposal...
2) Expose cards
If a player takes more than 30 seconds to act and then folds, the hand is exposed at the end of the hand. This "penalty" of giving up extra information could be just enough of a deterrent. It should also be effective in eliminating some of the more egregious stalling tactics employed by some players -- the T4-offsuit stall from early position on the bubble, for instance.
Anyone else have an idea to share?
Phil
I hate slow play. On the bubble in a tournament, the action grinds to a halt as some players take way too much time in obvious situations.
I like the shot clock, but I fear that it could alienate many novice players. And, what if you really do have a tough problem and need a little extra time?
So, here are two proposals:
1) Clock + 3 Extensions
30 second shot clock, and 3 "Extension Chips" that give a player up to a 2 minute extension for use at any time in the tournament. When a special situation occurs that requires some extra time, the players says "Extension" and throws an Extension Chip to the dealer, effectively buying the extra time.
Extension Extension: Sell the Extension Chips for 1% of the entry fee, with all fees added to the prize pool. Players would have to buy the chips when they registering for the tournament.
And, another more off the wall proposal...
2) Expose cards
If a player takes more than 30 seconds to act and then folds, the hand is exposed at the end of the hand. This "penalty" of giving up extra information could be just enough of a deterrent. It should also be effective in eliminating some of the more egregious stalling tactics employed by some players -- the T4-offsuit stall from early position on the bubble, for instance.
Anyone else have an idea to share?
Phil
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