In years past talking to your opponent when heads-up was banned, then the next year allowed again, on and off.

The rule governing table talk this year appears to be rule 115. It doesn't mention anything specific about heads-up chatter. Here's my question:
Late stages of the tournament, I have 2nd biggest stack at the table. I get KK pre and raise. The one guy I didn't want to tangle with goes into the tank. The last thing I need is for him to call with random whatever and then crush the flop. I say "I wouldn't mind at all if you folded". The dealer quickly admonished me and said no table talk allowed, even heads-up.

Does anyone see anything in Rule 115 or any other rule that says we can't talk when heads-up?

IMO I think your situation comes under the last sentence of rule 113, "One-participant-to-a-hand means a participant may not receive advice from anyone while in a hand, and may not provide advice to any participant while that participant is in a hand".

Here is a link to this years rule before someone asks:
2017 WSOP Official Tournament Rules

I don't believe the rule you quote is there for the reason you think.
It's more aimed towards the scenario where 3 players are in a pot with one player all-in and one player advises the other to just check it down to bust the all-in guy.

Right, I was talking to my heads-up opponent.

Funny thing is, Negreanu's vlog shows him chatting up his opponent big time, much more than what I said. He should be familiar with the rules because he's on the player's committee.

I don't think it's there for that reason either, but what "pig" described as happening is exactly what the rule says, and could result in a penalty. I think you probably had a situation were the dealer didn't quite understand the intent of the rule, and over reacted.

The rules on this have always been poorly defined and poorly understood by dealers. Even if they did get more specific about what can and cannot be said, players would find ways to get around the rules. If you are hoping for consistency at the WSOP it's just not going to happen.

The old rule before it was changed and then changed again was very clear. It basically said you couldn't say anything to your heads-up opponent. It was the first iteration of the Jamie Gold rule.

No way what I said could be interpreted by any sane person as "advice".

Further down is more that is in line with giving advice about what a player should during an active hand.


115. Table Talk / Disclosure: participants are obligated to protect the other participants in the Tournament at all times. Therefore, whether in a hand or not, participants may not: a. Disclose contents of live or folded hands. b. Advise or criticize play at any time. c. Read a hand that hasn't been tabled. d. Discuss strategy with an outside source while involved in a hand. e. The one-participant-to-a-hand rule mentioned in Rule 113 will be enforced. Special Exceptions: 1. A participant is allowed to mention the strength or content of his/her hand if no other participant in the hand will have a decision to make. 2. In heads-up events or when down to the last two participants in a Tournament, participants may speak freely regarding the contents of their hands. 3. The Floor Person reserves the right use his/her judgment to determine if one participant intentionally helped another participant. Participants who violate this rule are subject to penalty in accordance with Rules 40, 113, and 114.

This is live poker. Its supposed to be different than online poker. Players are supposed to be able to interact with one another. There are lines which can be crossed, but IMO, heads up table talk should be basically unlimited, with two caveats.

Players cannot berate/intimidate their opponents and players cannot waste time. The latter could be avoided with some sort of shot clock. And the former could be left up to the floor's discretion. In any case, this would eliminate a lot of guess work on the part of dealers/floor staff/players.

New rule bans "excessive chatter." Pretty subjective. Probably put in because of the Brit who drove everyone crazy last year.

Rule number?

Wouldn't apply in my case. I said one sentence.

No, does not apply in your case, I agree.

Rule is 48. Participant or staff abuse will not be tolerated. A participant will incur a penalty up to and including disqualification for any abuse towards another participant or staff member, and the participant could be asked to leave the property. Repeated etiquette violations, including, but not limited to, touching another participant’s cards or chips, body, or clothing, delay of game and excessive chatter will result in penalties.

also 118. Etiquette Violations: Repeated etiquette violations will result in the imposition of penalties assessed by the Tournament Staff. Examples include, but are not limited to, unnecessarily touching other participants’ cards or chips, body, or clothing, delay of the game, repeatedly acting out of turn, betting out of reach of the dealer, or excessive chatter. Excessive chatter includes, but is not limited to, talking or conversation that causes a disruption of participants who are in a hand.

After being told by 2 or 3 floor and 2 or 3 dealers that table talk isn't allowed, I asked a "senior" floor last night about it. He said there was no such rule. I just can't reveal my actual hand, either verbally or showing one or more cards.

I was playing in the $1000 Super turbo Bounty tournament and had collected a couple of bounties.

UTG player went all in with 6000 chips I had 9000 and woke up with KK on the button. The BB with 11000 chips went into the tank and I thought he may be folding so I said "$600 bounties changes your equity calculations doesn't it". I was trying to induce an inverse type of tell where he thought I was trying to ACT strong and in actuality I was weak, to get him to call all in as well.

He called snapped called with 99 and I almost tripled up and picked up my 3rd of 12 bounties.

I was then told by the dealer that that type of table talk was not allowed but he did not call for the floor and no other players complained.

Was the "table talk" legal or not?

If you were heads up there is no rule against it.

he wasnt

UTG was all-in, he was heads up from the description. Floor still may not allow it because the decision affects all-in guy.

Can y'all offer a ruling? During a local (non wsop) tournament, the clock was stopped to reseat a breaking table. Nobody at my table heard the announcement regarding the clock stopping. A hand was dealt and played to a showdown, while the clock was stopped. The players of this hand included 1 player from the table that broke. The hand was completed and as the chips were being collected, the tourney director saw what was happening and ruled the hand dead. The chips were to be returned to those who lost the hand. What is your ruling? My inexperienced view is that there was action, culminating in a showdown. Such ought not be reversed. Thanks,

I can't imagine any situation other than a fouled deck that should rewind the entire hand after it has been played to conclusion.