Time play is a growing problem in poker
The delay in the pace of the game referred to in enGLI stalling can be observed especially when the prize ranks are in sight. In particular, players with smaller stacks consciously take their time in order to slip into the winning zone as soon as possible. Of course, participants with larger stacks also try not to take any unnecessary risks during this time so that they don't have to go home without prize money. As a result, the speed and willingness to play decrease significantly in this phase. Stalling is also a tactical tool that some players deliberately use to gain an advantage. Large tournaments like the WSOP Main Event with several thousand participants are already several days long and therefore a physical and mental strain for the participants. A player who deliberately plays slowly may be able to force his opponents to tilt. Some opponents may become increasingly irritated by a player's provocative behavior and make mistakes as a result. If the tournament drags on and the pace of play slows down, some players' attention and concentration may noticeably decline.
The WSOP Main Event now has several thousand participants
According to the WSOP, deliberate stalling has recently increased. Perhaps this is emblematic of this the controversial behavior of enGLI poker pro William Kassouf at the Main Event last year. Back then, he deliberately played slowly and verbally provoked his opponents. He was repeatedly asked to speed up his game by increasingly annoyed tournament participants. Tournament director Jack Effel was also called in to defuse conflicts. Kassouf was ultimately fined for his behavior in one situation. When, after repeated warnings from tournament director Effel, he continued to provoke his opponent and let time pass, he had to miss a few rounds before he was allowed to sit down at the table again. But the changed rule probably didn't just have the fairness and well-being of the players in mind. Perhaps it is also intended to prevent some personalities from “marketing themselves” a little too much. In addition, the very important optimization of the game flow for television broadcasts was certainly a factor in this decision that should not be underestimated.
The adjusted time play rule for the 2017 WSOP event
After other tournament organizers have already adjusted their rules regarding timed play, the WSOP has now followed suit. To compare the changes, I have translated the first part of the rules for you:
Calling-for-clock: Once a reasonable amount of time has been granted, i.e. No less than two minutes, and a time limit has been requested, a participant is given 50 seconds to make a decision. When these 50 seconds have passed and no action has been taken, a ten second countdown is counted down and then a message [from the table supervisor] is given or an alarm signal sounds. If a participant has not acted before the alarm signal or message, his hand is declared dead.
The problems with the old regulation lie, among other things, in the terminology of the “reasonable period of time” and the specified two minutes. Of course, depending on the game situation, a player may need a lot of time to make a decision. Hence the wording “appropriate”. But if a player often takes a noticeably long time to act, there are problems with this rule formulation. First, at least two minutes must pass, then a table supervisor must be called and then the player is given another minute to think about it. These total of at least three minutes can be very long if you have been sitting at the table for hours and there are several thousand dollars in prize money at stake. The new regulation attempts to find a compromise between harshness against stalling and appropriate time to think about it:
Calling-for-clock: Once a reasonable amount of time has been granted and a time limit has been requested, it is at the sole discretion of the table supervisors whether to give the participant an additional time to think between 0 and 30 seconds. If no action has been taken after the supervisor's request, a ten second countdown is counted down and then a message [from the table supervisor] is given or an alarm signal sounds. If a participant has not acted before the alarm signal or message, his hand is declared dead.
The reformulated regulation has two major advantages. The specified two minutes have been omitted and the time allowed for reflection has also been shortened. What is much more important, however, is that the tournament management, in the person of the table overseer, can now react much more flexibly. It is now up to the player's discretion whether a player's request for a time limit is met and how long the following cooling-off period is. It may only be the 10 second countdown. This means he can react much better to participants who deliberately play slowly. So if someone needs time to make an important decision and a player at the table calls the “clock”, then the overseer can decide for himself whether a time limit is given. This ensures that a player who normally doesn't take so much time is not put under too much time pressure in an important situation.
And there is another new aspect that is not in this rule. The table supervisors can also decide at their own discretion whether and when to set a time limit. You no longer need to wait for a player to request. The tournament management is now significantly more influential than before. It is possible to take more active action against participants who repeatedly attract negative attention.
What could this rule do in the future?
The example of the soccer player shows is a bit of a dilemma that a stricter time limit brings with it. On the one hand, faking an injury to take time off the clock is unsportsmanlike, but on the other hand, the player's health should be the priority. In addition, such behavior is of course clever and will certainly be used by all teams. So the principle of balancing justice applies. In poker it is also ultimately clever to provoke the other players. Quite a few believe that Kassouf's behavior last year was completely legitimate. The other players just have to be strongigt enough to withstand his provocations if they want to become world poker champions. Poker is so popular because it is a psychological game in which you try to get into your opponent's head. Trash talk and stalling are good for this. It is therefore considered weak by some to seek help from the tournament management. And regardless of whether you like a player like Kassouf or not, such controversies are undoubtedly entertaining. And if you're going to accuse the WSOP of wanting to streamline the tournament just for TV, then maybe they should remember one thing: Nobody wants to watch players sitting in a circle in silence, emotionlessly playing cards. And can one rule out the possibility that the table supervisors - perhaps even without realizing it themselves - influence the game with their new freedom based on personal sympathies?
We'll see.
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