In a recent article (TDA Rules I don’t adhere to) I talked about the in the seat rule, a rule I follow to my own specifications. In this article I’ll talk about a rule that in my opinion is handled poorly by many in the poker industry.

Let me reiterate that as a Tournament Director for worldwide events, it’s my job to see that all things that occur during the event are fair to everyone. As a member of the Tournament Directors Association (TDA) I usually adhere to the rules set forth in our meetings, after all I’m part of the meetings and usually have a voice during the affair.

That being said I also have issues with some of the rules, another one of which I’ll address here.

I’ve been to many events lately where the TD announces “No Cell Phones Allowed”, this is followed by no communication devises at all, no IPOD’s with phones, no beepers, and no texting devices etc.

The reason for this is the problem of collusion and I’m all for stopping collusion in anyway. The Tournament Directors announcements are similar to this: If you are using a cell phone or communication device when the cards are dealt, you have a dead hand. If you use or are using a cell phone or communication device during the course of a hand, you have a dead hand. So, the implication is if you use or are using a cell phone or communication device anytime during the event you have a dead hand. So the best advice is to turn off your communication device until you either win the event or are knocked out of the event.

Let me say that they have this half right, so let me comment on this rule and show you how I handle it

First, I agree that Communication devices pose a problem; they can in fact affect a poker event. A quick text to my friend to say what cards I folded. It can violate the one player to a hand rule etc. So below is my solution and my reasons why.

Here’s the way I’d like to see the rule

If you’re on the phone at the time the first card comes off the deck, it will be treated as though you’re not seated at the table and you will have a dead hand

After all, this says to me that the call is more important as the hand is or should be equal to the importance of you leaving the table to say go to the restroom or have a smoke

If you’re on the phone with action pending, facing a bet or it being your turn to act, you will get an automatic (?) Round penalty

Your hand will never be killed!

I add the (?) because I don’t want to dictate to any TD just how many rounds it should be in their casino

Here’s my reason why.

My thought pattern is that no chips should ever go to the wrong player (guy has the nuts, takes a phone call and the pot goes to a guy who would have gotten none of it).

It can’t be right that a player gets chips he not supposed to otherwise win, because that truly affects everyone in the event.

Let’s say for example that I’m in a hand of Pot Limit Omaha with Devilfish, a huge pot occurs and I have the best hand but take a phone call. All those chips go to the Devil (pun intended), now you (any player) get moved to Devilfish table where he has a mountain of chips he shouldn’t have. Is that fair? Or say it’s David Pham in NLH? Or Barry Greenstein in Stud? Well you get my point.

Further, it opens the door for chip pushing, (read collusion) and I’ve seen this where the dead hand rule is used in the colluders favor. The poker player makes a bet on the turn then takes a call and the TD will come over declare it a dead hand send your chips get sent by the TD to your buddy.

If the player gets a severe enough penalty (not a dead hand), I believe the industry will have a lot less trouble with communication devices.