Wife and I are playing a great deep 1/3 500$ max game in Vegas about 12-20 hours per week. We are both fairly good players and have been studying a lot lately. I have a strong LAG image, fun, appear gambly at times, and almost always have the biggest stack at our daytime games. She has a solid TAG image, not gambly, people fold big hands to her because they think she always has the goods. We are young for the daytime crowd, early 30s, and that probably irritates some OMCs.

We like to play at the same table. Before the criticism about how -EV that possibly is, poker is a hobby first and an income second for us. It's our favorite thing to do in our limited free time. We are winning players, her low variance style compliments my high variance plays.

At the table, we appear to be having fun. We chit chat about stupid stuff, we are friendly to other players. The dealers like us and most of the regs do to. We don't talk about hands during the hand or even right after the hand. Strat discussions can wait till we get home.

Inevitably, people will hate on us for playing together. We get accused of colluding (which is absurd) and we get dirty looks when we are winning and having fun and they are losing to both of us. We NEVER soft play. If we happen to be in a hand together, we still bet our hands. I see more soft playing between unrelated regs all the time.

How far is too far for someone to push the collusion angle on us? The floor knows we play together, and the dealers know we don't soft play. Some people will get really heated over us playing together, and I want to know when to draw the line with the harassment. Should I be asking for the floor in these situations? I will let a comment from a player slide once, like "hey, no talking in a hand" (which is never is talking about a hand) but when they push farther than that, I want to know my recourse.

Odds of floor punishing someone for abusive comments <<<<<<< them making one of you move because it's causing problems even if you're not doing anything wrong.

Don't sit at the same table? Appearances matter. If you insist on continuing this, get thicker skin because the complaints and snarky comments aren't going to stop.

No matter how hard you both try to be honest and all that, it look terrible for two regulars to stick together like . . . . . well like they are doing something shady.

And you should expect the day may come when enough things happen, honest though each of them were, when the floor/manager is going to take action and deal with the issue by separating you.

DrStrange

You are playing a game for hundreds of dollars and expecting people to just trust you that nothing fishy is going on. Even if you're not trying to collude, it can very easy to affect you subconsciously.

If you guys want to play together, you're either going to have to deal with people protecting their interests or find a home game.

I still don't understand why you have to play at the same table (or even the same venue).

Your own words indicate you think in terms of team results. I know lots of regs well but I would never think to say that one of their styles complements my style.

I put it in the same category as English only at the table. Probably over 99% of the time, the people speaking in a foreign language are just saying the same chit chat that the English speakers are, but in a language that is easier for them to use. But because it can give the appearance of collusion, it isn't allowed. You may think you play completely straight up, but it's easy to see how others may not believe you. IMO you shouldn't play at the same table.

So, the happy couple show up at the poker room. You are seated in Table 14 and she is directed to Table 23. Then, every day, one of you quite pointedly requests a table change to the other's table. You don't think that regs will notice and think something is fishy?

You don't have to avoid sitting at the same table. Just don't make such an obvious point of insisting on sitting together.

I appreciate the replies, not far off from what I expected. We tend to open up the first table of the day for our game, so sitting together is basically forced. I think when we are at the same table, sitting near each other is better than sitting opposite, being if there are several players in between us I wouldn't want them to feel trapped.

Funny thing is, if one of us appears to be losing no one cares if we sit together.

Personally I think it is unethical. If you were both recreational players, I wouldn't mind it at all. I wouldn't even mind the soft play, people do it all the time.

But two married winning players always sitting at the same table is another story. You are both a team, a team of one in marriage so no matter how hard you play against each other, what's the difference anyway?

you always have the biggest stack at the table? So why are you studying? it sounds like you have it all figured out.

I've seen some nasty arguments erupt between married couples playing at the same table... all is well until a big pot or an entire stack (and ego) are at stake... I can still hear the scream of "but I raised, why did you call me?" echoing around from one couple's argument.

That being said, there are two couples who regularly play in my local room -- neither causes any issues -- with one couple the wife is very much the aggressor and it's obvious that the husband just plays to keep her company.. her style is always the same: if she has anything, she raises preflop, then shoves the flop. He is passive. He folds to most anyone's raises unless he has a monster hand. The other couple just plays on a very social level, their winnings are pretty much based on the luck of the cards... neither gets aggressive, but will make moderate raises or call bets when they have premium hands.

My husband and I used to frequently play together in a room where everyone knew us. No one ever accused us of colluding. Are you sure you haven't done anything that would make people suspect it?
If not, I would say get a thicker skin or don't play at the same table

If by a room you mean an actual poker room with a cast of regulars as well as random drop-ins, I assure you people were at least thinking you were colluding if they knew you were married or together in some way. I have never dealt to a couple that at some point I had to deal with a table speculating when the couple got up. Not saying it happens every single time, just saying that people were definitely thinking it, whether it was ever expressed or not. This in itself is why I hate when couples play at the same table. I never want there to ever be any chance of collusion at my table, intentional or unintentional.

At one room, I often see regs declining to bet for value, with the assumption that the other reg will decline to bet for value against them. Last casino trip I saw one wife complain about one reg (then all regs) about the soft play. Her husband was involved in the soft play circus at the same table. If the dealer and floors won't do anything about the regs, they shouldn't do anything about you guys sitting together.


Draw the line at never being harassed. If someone makes a comment about talking during a hand, then don't talk during the hand. However, if they make a comment about soft play, or collusion, I would ask them for clarification and make it loud enough for the dealer to hear. It's an accusation of cheating, and when you let it slide, they feel right and justified. Find out what exactly they think you guys did wrong, and explain why it wasn't.



Agree the chances are the floor splits you up if multiple tables are running, instead of dealing with complaints.


When I hit the poker room with buddies, we usually end up together by the end of the night. I don't necessarily want to bust one of them early, or have them do that to me. By the end of the session, it's more social, and the chit chat is enjoyable.

Does it count as shared bankroll if the big winner is going to buy dinner? Am I more likely to bet big, or call a big bet knowing the money is headed towards a steak either way?

What's the problem with them doing this? He said they enjoy spending time together and playing with each other.

I have played with couples all the time and personally to me, I don't like it.

I'm sure you haven't done this but what if you both are sending signals to each other. Especially if you sit next to each other, you could potentially tap each other under the table indicating what cards you folded.
Just a small example of what could happen.

A real life example. 1/2 Excalibur. Married couple sit next to each other.

Husband would raise BB one caller, Wife SB, calls. Husband Cbets flop, caller folds, wife calls, check down. Not a huge deal but from callers perspective it is like playing against two hands.

Last example. Husband raises pre, LAG 3bets 5bb, one caller, Wife shoves, Husband calls, LAG and caller fold.
Husband mucks. Wife takes pot. Husband leaves, short after wife racks up and leaves too....

Pretty fishy to me. Not saying you all did that but if you ever played in a pot at the same time, kinda makes people wonder.

But, why do you like playing at the same table? Don't you guys spend/share enough quality time at home together?

Imo, finding 20 hours a week to play poker is a little bit more than "limited free time." But, if you really treasure your limited time, what's wrong with going to the casino *together*, and then sharing a meal *together* but chose to play at separate tables.

I think you're asking for a lot to just expect the players to trust you. Granted, I personally do trust what you say to be truth, but not everyone is going to and I don't blame them. This isn't a fun home game of monopoly, people are risking hundreds(thousands) of dollars. Have some respect for that.

Fwiw, the fact that you two NEVER soft play actually equates to nothing. The best cheats out there wouldn't dare soft play one another as that would surely be a pretty big tip off! Again, not claiming that you cheat, but I am pointing out that what you see as being ok may not be seen as the same by a lot of the other players. And now add that on top of the fact that you're both big winners in the room, and I say you are just asking for the impossible. Your goal should be for players to WANT to play with you, not feel uneasy when they see your face. And, you can say that they're wrong and what you're doing is totally on the up and up but you know what, none of it is going to prevent the comments that are going to get thrown your way, so, I guess that leaves you and the wife playing under the not so nice conditions that (I would think) you were seeking when you leave the house, no? Meh, it's not what I would call "quality" time with my wife.

Would you wana be on the same table as two pro's who play out of a shared bankroll, or if one of them is staking the other one?

To me this is a very similar situation.

Are you both playing off the same bankroll? If you are then you have an ethical obligation to inform the table and each new player of that and if anyone objects for one of you to leave the game immediately (not when / if another seat opens up).

If I ever played with my wife, I'd suggest we show both hands to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

I grab Husband's cards and turn them over and or demand IWTSTH.

And what if LAG has AA? Pretty sweet getting all in vs two bad hands...

And bottom line, why is what Mr and Mrs Jones do any different from friends Bill C and George B do?

What the hell would I care? Your focus should be on your own game, not being terrified of the actions of others. And if you have information on people's bankrolls and staking arrangements ahead of time, adjust and use it to your advantage.

Possibly the most ridiculous thing I've ever read in my entire life. You have zero such obligation, nor can anyone at the table demand or suggest you go anywhere. This is nonsense.

This entire thread is a great example of why recreational players think 2p2'ers are antisocial creeps at the table.

Yeah, that's a very odd, yet revealing comment.

Actually, your post is a better example of why players think 2p2ers are antisocial creeps at the table.

There's obligation, and there's what you should do. The rules do not say that you have to play at separate tables, and there is no rule that dictates you disclose your relationships. So you have "zero obligation" if obligation means doing the bare minimum required by the rules.

It's polite, though totally unnecessary per the rules, to sit at separate tables, to sit next to each other at the same table (so nobody gets sandwiched), to hard play even HU, and to show both hands at showdown. This is stuff you should do because it's nice and friendly and maybe you give up a little EV in the short run but you get it back by having a reputation as a stand up guy. Plus you can turn your hand face up at most 1/2 games and people would still call with incorrect odds so nobody's going to rape your soul.

When people ask what they "should" do, 2p2ers overwhelmingly cite the rules of the casino.

Who shows first? The rules say ...

Do I have to give an exact count of my chips when asked? The rules say ...

How do I switch from a terrible main game to a juicy must move? The rules say ...

What do you do when the whole table except you wants to straddle? The rules say ...

Honestly, **** the rules. Every time a 2p2er calls the floor a baby kitten dies. Every time a 2p2er cites a rule a baby kitten dies. Every day there are piles and piles of dead baby kittens littering the floor of every casino because 2p2ers think that not getting out of the casino is A+ instead of C-.

Trust me, no one anywhere with sense would think I'm the nitty weirdo over the people here. I'm on the side of having a fun time out at the casino. Everyone else is on the side of obsessing over whether a husband and wife sit together. Normal people don't care about this stuff.