I think we are hurting our own games by instantly sitting out when a non-reg sits out or leaves the table. I also think we're in danger of losing the most well known high stakes non-regular.

As long as is this is acceptable to Poker Stars and everyone else, here's what I propose (and please feel free to revise, add suggestions, etc):

-If you're willing to agree to play, post here with your screen name.
-If there's 3 or more of us at a table, then we play for a minimum of 15 minutes regardless of whether the person is sitting out or has left.

I think this should erase the non-regs false idea that we might be colluding. And it should also serve to start more high limit games as it's possible someone else will sit when 3+ players are playing.

If there's a Stars rep reading this, please let us know your thoughts.

TPirahna

I´m in, regardless if its 15 minutes or another solution. I think it might be easier to convince everybody to play two orbits, as the player on sit-out will be removed from the table after missing 3 big blinds.

asso

Yeah, right. People insta-sit out of live $300/$600 games when people are glaring at them and calling them out to their faces. You think a bunch of people hiding behind the anonymity of the internet are somehow going to do what is best for the games? No shot.

thanks for sharing. i guess we can close this thread then.

The problem is that if one person sits out, then the next person is forced into the difficult situation of deciding to play or risk getting "buttoned". In the current state of the games everyone is sitting out because it's inevitable they'll be buttoned if they don't. I think a lot of people, most in fact, are sitting out for that reason alone, not because they are "hiding behind the anonymity of the internet". I certainly understand your point though.

The reason people are forced into sitting out is because there's no communication among the players. They're forced into it (myself included) because of the actions of a few people. I'm hoping this thread opens the door to communicate and agree to a solution.

You may be able to convince people, and for your sake I hope you can. My experience has been that when people are put in a "screw or be screwed spot", they choose to screw even if it hurts them long term.

The player who is single handedly keeping online limit holdem a float is getting super pissed off that we are all sitting out whnever he sits out.

This is a BIG issue, if someone can link this to the german forums id aprecaite it.

I sign up..

So far its me, tpirahna, asso.. I know KPR and otter will be down.

FWiw I hate playing most of those guys who will be willing to play, so this isnt for short term profit. ITs for long term sustaince of the games.

Guys like fama, umumba etc, probabily wont be in.. But I suspect guys like valesco, yanekk.

I think this should really only apply to 8sup for now.

I hope you're wrong about it, time will tell I guess.

The important thing for everyone to understand is that it's for the benefit of the regulars, non-regulars, and the site. The regulars and site obviously because more games will run and there's more money to be made. The non-regs because there isn't this chorus of insta sit outs that can easily be misconstrued as people colluding or teaming up on one person. I think most non-regs just want a fair game and want to be treated on the same level as everyone else. And they should be treated like everyone else. Their motivations might be to gamble, kill time, compete, etc. Whatever it is, I know if I were in their position and everybody sat out every time I did, I'd feel belittled and very possibly stop playing.

I am in, but we need a clear rule how many orbits/hands will be played, because otherwise the prisoner's dilemma will only be delayed. The person to sit out first will still be the winner.

Yeah maybe orbits is easier. I'd vote for 4 orbits at least initially since it'll likely be 3-handed mostly unless a lot of people agree. 12 hands isn't going to take a long time especially if I'm not in the game. Somebody could just type last orbit or something to make sure everyone's on the same page.

this is news to me... i figured he was the one guy most likely to not care at all. has he been complaining in chat lately?

also, im a bit skeptical that a 3 orbit dog and pony show will do much to appease someone making those complaints.

He HAS to know that he is the reason the games go, but fish do not want to be treated merely as ATM machines. Given how much he's blown it is quite clear that the money is of no consequence to him and if he feels like he is just "one of the guys playing poker" he'll likely be happy to play and continue to do so. What you need is someone personable and entertaining to keep him interested and having fun, but unfortunately interpersonal relationships do not seem to be the strong suit with many high stakes online players.

I would also be in, and if it only was to surprise Heisenb3rg (as you can see I even created a 2+2-account for that, my first post...).

We definitely need fixed rules. A problem might be that someone multitabling could forget about it in the first time, since we all are used to sit out and will have to learn first.

I'm also interested in what super wrote in the chat or somewhere. I can't believe he will ever quit, because he seems to be a real addict (from a moralic point of view we should maybe even try to make him quit, instead of making proft from his disease, but that's another question). As Trypta said he always seemed like being the one with the smallest problems about the situation (sometimes he is on tilt though). But it's also a good idea to keep other players in the game.

yes of course, i make that statement mostly because ive never seen him complain in the past.

and if someone wants to feel like "one of the guys playing poker," then how is playing an extra 15 hands after they quit going to change that?

its conceivable that the gesture would go a long way, but i need convincing.

Ok well, I'm in for the 8su game at least.

I think this is a very good idea in theory but it's so hard to make work in practice.

What I really think would best solve the problem was if Stars gave a bonus to whoever posts (or actively tried to post) the LAST big blind when a game breaks, like a "last man standing" bonus. It could be small, like .25/BB maybe? I don't know if Stars would find it reasonable, but if the race became "be the last to quit" instead of the first, games would run hours longer, new fish would sometimes join etc.

to do this the software would have to pick up on whether or not you had the "sit out next hand/button" selected, but that seems doable.