Ethics Question

[hank213 1,823]

This was a situation I was in last week at the B&M (obviously) poker room I frequent. The guy in seat 1 was completely blind, and from what I saw of him a fairly decent player. On one hand early on, he was on the big blind and I was in MP with marginally playable hand and I just happened to overhear what he had. Anyway, I've been thinking it over for the past week, and was curious as to what the forum thought.

[Jordan 1]

that's bizarre.he should have a friend help him, not the dealer....- Jordan

[pbwl11 0]

I thought dealers weren't allowed to say anything about anyone's hand, regardless of the circumstances? Shouldn't the Floorperson have been notified?

[Luv4TheDuece 0]

I thought dealers weren't allowed to say anything about anyone's hand, regardless of the circumstances? Shouldn't the Floorperson have been notified?

f'em, you dont get to the top being nice

[hank213 1,823]

Yeah I thought it was unusual for the dealer to be involved, but it was the floor that set it up that way. So whose responsibility is it to "protect the hand?" The dealer? The player? Both? It just seems to raise all kinds of potential problems, like that.

[NortonFan 0]

If I can't hear I'm going to try and move closer. If not me it's going to be someone else.

[nutzbuster 7]

I'd leave the table.

[SweetDaddyFreak 0]

Man i was hoping for the option "Take his chips when the dealer is following the action"Seriously, you dont have you wait for him to look away and if he finds out where is he gonna go, just blame it on someone who doesnt speak english

[Golden 2]

I would try and hear or decipher what is being said and use it to my advantage.

[jayboogie 0]

Wow I"m shocked at some of these responses. I can't believe some of you would actually take advantage of a handicapped person in this situation.

[FourFlusher 0]

I saw a guy one night that had some kind of palsey...he shook like a bowl of Jello and had trouble controlling his arms, they waved all over the place, almost always showing his cards to somebody.He could't stack chips, so he had a huge mess all around his station.I couldn't sit down, I didn't want to watch it.

[redandblack 0]

blind people shouldnt play poker. stay at home and dont inconvience me.

[offset 0]

Weird situation. Not that I would, but could actively listening be considered cheating?

[greatwhite 0]

I would definately leave the table.

[Abbaddabba 0]

If he was whispering it loud enough so that other people heard, i'd probably tell the dealer he should be a bit more quiet. Why let everyone fleece the blind man? I'd rather him cling to his money as long as possible so to present myself with the most opportunities to exploit the advantage. Seriously, though... If it was just one hand, i'd probably just keep playing use the information to my advantage if an opportunity came up. If it got to the point where i could hear it every hand, i'd probably tell the dealer to quiet down.

[hardkorbeatz 0]

dude just leave table i dont know about you but im not going to enjoy taking money from a blind person.

[Abbaddabba 0]

I actually was in a similar situation.An old deaf guy was sitting at my 1-5 spread 7 stud table at the borgata. He was half blind too, i think and had to have people read their up cards out to him because he couldnt see across the table.I felt bad, until he turned out to be a total jackass. And a maniac too. He snarled at me more than once. The moral of the story is: cripples can be assholes too.

[hardkorbeatz 0]

ya thats true i knew this 10 yr old kid who was in a fire and wore a mask anyway he was a total dildo picking on kids and stuff.

[TheWatchMan 0]

if i went blind, id want people to give me a fair game at a card table. its absolute bullshit that the percentage shows people would actively try and take advantage of a blind man, jesus christ. its the same as taking money from a blind mans collection basket, its incredibly nasty and depressing that card players can be such scrooges.if you do it, you should go up to the guy after and say, "mate, i cheated you cos your impaired"

[vgsgeek 0]

Did they make him post every hand since he's blind?Seriously though, I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to the dealer, but I'm certain I'd be paying attention to the dealer's lips when he's whispering to the guy. It's not my fault the guy can't see his cards. But, I want his chips as bad as I want the rest of the chips at the table.

[rogerwilco 0]

if i went blind, id want people to give me a fair game at a card table. its absolute bullshit that the percentage shows people would actively try and take advantage of a blind man, jesus christ. its the same as taking money from a blind mans collection basket, its incredibly nasty and depressing that card players can be such scrooges.if you do it, you should go up to the guy after and say, "mate, i cheated you cos your impaired"

Obviously if you happen to hear what cards the guy has you have to use it to your advantage, for example calling a big raise preflop with JJ when you know he has QQ would be just stupid in my opinion.But imo you definately have to tell the dealer afterwards, that you heard it. If you need to cheat on a handicapped guy to make money, you probably are either a fish or an ******* anyway [in my opinion, actively trying to hear what cards he has is the equivalent of leaning over and looking at his hand].

[aadams_22 3]

This is a tough one. Personally, I'd probably leave the table. However, I wouldn't frown on someone for listening in on it for the sole fact that the blind guy is trying to take your money in the same way that you are trying to take his.

[Man_With_An_Axe 0]

Someone needs to switch to blackjack...To be honest, I'd let the dealer know the second I overheard anything - and if I kept overhearing it, leave the table. I've never had trouble winning money without resorting to anything illegal (make that immoral) before, and don't see the need to start.Sure the extra 4 or 5 BBs might be nice at the time, but shaving the next day would be hard since I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror...

[Kuge 0]

Wow I"m shocked at some of these responses. I can't believe some of you would actually take advantage of a handicapped person in this situation.

I guess I would be "Stealing the blinds" muahahaha ...But I'd inform the dealer to lower his/her voice so no one can hear...or switch tables.

[screech 0]

The player is not making a mistake, the dealer is. This situation is a lot different then another player unintentionally exposing their hole cards. I'm not saying my action would be different, but in this case you should inform the dealer to cover his mouth and talk quieter.