Sit out next BB is still there. Timing out also works.

Hmm, might just be me and it's only some of the time. My internet here is terrible so it's possible I'm just disconnecting and the screen isn't coming back up properly.

Solutions that can be baked into the software are optimal. Any solution or rule that relies on honor or constant human monitoring is bound to be abused and therefore fail.

Speaking of which, I wonder if Stars has considered the solution to blind abuse that I have proposed.

I hope so since your idea is the NUTZ!!!!! It really should already have been like that for 10 years!

I thought of a litle tweak that you might like : the idea is to have a bucket on the table( the Johny bucket) and that at the beginning of the orbit all the players put a sb+bb in that bucket. At the beginning of every hand then a sb+bb get taken from the bucket and posted in front of the players in the blind (instead of them posting from their stack) .

This way you pay when you commit to the orbit.
You can go allin with whatever is in your stack and players can leave when ever they want with whats infront of them.

This i think might make it more intuitive for recreational players.

I got it once yesterday. Think 15-30 table but can't remember any specifics.

I talked to Baard this morning and someone from PokerStars, likely Baard will be posting here soon and explaining what action they're taking with the sit-out problem.

of course there doesnt need to be an actual picture of a bucket(they can make a bar graph or something)...as long as it makes it clear that you pay when the orbit starts and that that money is gone. (getting fed back some of that equity with each hand you play)

i like this bucket.

DAMN, WHERE IS STEVE?

From reading the thread and talking to players, we are aware that players sitting out at tables is a problem, and we do take it very seriously.
First, if you have not read the rules on sitting out, I suggest doing so. They are rules 10 – 12 on this page:

http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/room/policies/ring/.

Starting this week, we will be increasing our focus on enforcing these rules in the limit games. It may take some time before the effects are felt, but we know from experience from the No-Limit games that once we reach all those who are regularly breaking the rules, we see gradual improvement.

We invite you to help us by contacting us on Skype when someone is breaking the rules. If you send us a mail on highstakes@ with your Skype name, we will add you to our contact list. Since most instances of players sitting out are legitimate, we do encourage you to give people a minute or two before making a report.

On a different note. One of the things that were agreed on during the meetings with the 2p2 representatives was that we should introduce some specific promotional activities that focus on the limit games. With that in mind, we are looking for players who are willing to participate in high-stakes (minimum $100/$200) heads-up matches that will feature as prominent events on the site. The format will be similar to that of the Superstar Showdown, with a fixed number of hands played over multiple, rake-free tables.

The participants must accept that their names will be used to promote the matches and that we put the buy-in for the match in escrow for a week or so before it is scheduled to start. A part of this buy-in will be non-refundable in order to ensure that both players actually show up at the agreed time.
If you’re interested in participating or want more information, send an email to highstakes@ .

hi, can you expand on this part a bit? what if its totally obvious when a player instantly sits out due to another player sitting out/busting? furthermore, are players allowed to sit out while a "preferred player" is sitting out as long as its not longer than 1 minute?

def interested in that. Llama will take it to the streets.

Dammit Baard, why couldn't we do the challenge matches when US play was still allowed.

Quaternion

(Who will play *anybody* if my damn government allows it...)

Moderator54 [Moderator]: Hello players. My name's Kamela.
Moderator54 [Moderator]: Please be aware that sitting out is not a violation of any rules. For more information, please go to the Main Lobby/Help/Contact Support.
Moderator54 [Moderator]: Thank you, have fun and enjoy your game.


this rule is a total cluster ****

All we are asking is that you use a bit of common sense about this. From experience I would estimate that in about half the reports I get, the situation has been resolved by the time I get to the table.

The moderators are there to handle chat violations and nothing more. They have no experience with the issues we are talking about here.

i'm asking the same about the enforcement and wording of the rule. i'm just guessing, but i think a lot of the times its been "resolved" by the time you get there its because the preferred player has left or sat in again. in the meantime, those players who are trying to follow the rule in good faith will have already posted the last BB.

I really wish Stars would consider either implementing a software based solution, going back to the status quo, or at the very least firming up the wording of rules 10/11 so that things are spelled out more precisely.

Personally, I dont think its feasible to effectively enforce this rule as written. Please consider changing it or prove me wrong.

lol i assume you made this post to piss off all the people following the rules and reporting people?

Get your butt over to Canada. On second thought, wait till it gets regulated

Yeah I woulda been all over that too, pretty cool idea

This is either going to have to be played against a really popular player like isildur1 or Ivey, or be played huge stakes, for it to attract any significant attention to lhe imo. If it's a 200/400 match between two lhe specialists, it will be extremely boring to rec. players.

lol, ok im done following this rule as well now

Actually, judging from the comments when LHE hands are posted in the ***[month] HIGH STAKES THREAD*** in NVG, the rec players love to see the light calldowns, etc. that are part of standard LHE. I think this really would generate interest.

"omg a $2000 pot and he won with king high? What a craaazzzzyyyy and fascinating game!"

Replace

"in about have the reports I get, the situation has been resolved by the time I get to the table" with

"in exactly 100% of the reports I get, the situation has not been resolved by the time I get to the table, still isn't currently resolved, and probably never will be resolved"

and you will have a true statement.

Resolved does not mean by the time you get to the table there is a game running.

Resolved would mean you do SOMETHING! Rule violators are first warned and repeated violators are punished with a temporary ban from play. If this is not happening, nothing is resolved. Rule followers have been hurt by the rule violators. And rule violators have benefited.

Please understand this:

1) In 100% of reports you are getting (with possibly a very, very rare exception) a rule violation took place.

2) The game is damaged by this (which hurts Stars and all players).

3) The rule violators benefited.

4) The rule followers are hurt the most in real dollars.

--
Play manuscript follows:

Crime victim: Officer Baard, I'd like to report a crime.

Officer Baard: What seems to be the trouble here?

Crime victim: That man stole my TV (points to man wearing mask and holding TV with victim's name written on it).

Officer Baard: So he stole your TV, but he's not *currently* stealing your TV?

Crime victim: That's right, he stole it 5 minutes ago.

Officer Baard: Thief, be gone with your new TV. Look's like another case resolved by Officer Baard. *pats self on back*