Tense Table Talk

There was a bit of a raging debate over on Table 8 just a minute ago. During the hand in question, a player registered as "Boy Bubble" made a bet on the river with a queen-high board showing. His lone opponent was Elie Sokhn, and he made a few quick comments across the table before announcing a call. He showed first, turning over pocket kings.

"That's good," said Bubble, but Sokhn made a gesture as if asking to see his hand. With a big frown, Bubble pushed his cards deep into the muck so as to be irretrievable. Well, that sparked a flurry of rage from Sokhn, enough to summon the floor person.

"Look," said Bubble, "you can't ask to see my hand every f***ing time." He nudged his neighbor Nenad Medic as if asking for some support in his argument, but Medic remained hush.

"I called you; you have to show your hand," insisted Sokhn. The floor person then briefly interviewed the dealer who told him that Sokhn had asked to see mucked cards on several consecutive occasions. "Okay," said the floor person, "no more asking to see cards for you."

Another mini fit of rage from Sokhan caused the floor person to elaborate: "Usually you ask to see cards to prevent collusion. You're asking to see his strategy and you can't do that."

Sokhn turned back to Bubble and needled, "That's all right, I don't need to see your cards. I can see your chips!" He finished by splashing his hands around in his newfound pile of chips, drawing no reaction from his opponent.

2009 Lebanese Poker Championship

2009 Lebanese Poker Championship

Tense Table Talk