Play him heads up for rolls take down our icon..... only ITT can some pimple faced random tell some guy that makes 6 figs a year he is a goof, no respect for elders tisk tisk... what was your name again big oaf?

Im possibly the easiest poker player in the world to find and play against. Im on the same table (bike #25) around the same time (3pm) 4 or 5 days a week. Ill start any game i think i can fill with anyone and buy you drinks to boot!!!

That said i play basically what i want when i want and wont change 1 minute of my day for some internet rage baby. In fact if I do the opposite of what they want it brings me immense joy. Thats what makes being a professional poker player great, FU money!!!

In my 10 years of playing live in Vegas, LA, and Florida, this issue has come up maybe 5 times.

There will often be players who end up at the same table who are friends, significant others, backers, etc.

Usually it's pretty obvious when players show up together. They don't try to hide it. Whether they share bankroll, we don't know. But if there's anything fishy going on between how those players play in multiway pots, players at the table should be cautious and alert other players.

There will usually be some element of soft-play amongst friends. Regs and recs who are friends soft play each other all the time(checking it down, not bluffing in spots where they would vs non-friends). It seems that most people who I play regularly with have accepted this, and do it themselves. Limon, you said you're a reg at The Bike. This type of soft play occurs all the time amongst the regs and props! Every time I've gone there, it's obvious that it's the same players that show up day in and day out, and many soft play each other to some degree.

It only becomes a real issue when they are squeezing other players out of pots and signaling.

I think as long as players have a good idea of who's friends with each other, that prevents issues from arising in live games.

I am even able to adjust my play when there are friends at the table. For example, I know some friends never 3bet each other light. So I can narrow their ranges further.

Protect yourself and be alert. If you feel uncomfortable about team play, get up and notify the floor and other players. I don't see a need for this "registering team play" idea that does not appear practical at all.

you basically made my point. when you know your opponents have a piece of each other its no problem. when you dont know its a BIG problem.

In the big buy in live tournaments players arent telling their opponents who has pieces of whom. Sometime 2p2 will dig small glimpses of this information up after the fact. At least online youll get a frantic call from ike haxton telling you youre not playing against who you think you are (if he likes you and has your contact info)!

L-O-L at the Ike Haxton quip. Pure gold!

I can see this possibly working in tournaments. But doesn't seem feasible in cash games. Formally pointing out friends, horses, and significant others in cash games would scare away the fish or even the average player. On the other hand, in tournaments, once registered, they're stuck in it. They may not even end up having stable mates or backer-horse duo at their table. Perhaps having that identification tag that was mentioned in the beginning can help tourney directors assign teams to different tables.