Tougher case. I think it's close.

Fair enough. If you're comfortable being at risk, and nobody thinks you have these obligations, then go ahead.

I do in fact enjoy playing poker with people who understand what is and is not appropriate in a poker game.

That's probably debatable, but that sounds like a pretty secure argument to me.

Just to be clear: I never doubted that there are games where people don't care. There are also games where people don't care where the button is and whether the deck was shuffled--that doesn't really speak to the question whether shuffling the deck and moving the button are part of playing poker properly (where "poker" refers to the game we sit around forums discussing). It also doesn't speak to the question whether someone ought to speak up in a game where (i) he's paying rake to be there and (ii) he has limited trust (as one usually does) in the opponents, dealer, etc.

Keeping hole cards concealed (obvious exceptions aside) is a basic part of poker. Not speaking up when a card flashes is, to a first approximation, like not speaking up if the deck doesn't get shuffled.

All my best,

--Nate

Yeah, I agree with all of that in principle. The difference is that (so far) I've never had a floor come out and start asking me questions about the deck not being shuffled. "Can you identify the top card? Jack of hearts? No! Wrong! The shuffle stands!" and then it turns out it was the king of diamonds.

Even though I entirely get that game integrity matters and would never take this attitude if I were the floor, I'm willing to accept the imprecision about pitched cards as the price for playing in these games.

If it's an isolated incident, I don't.

If it's more than once or appears to be likely to happen again, I'll say something non-specific, e.g., "Dealer, can you pitch the cards closer to the felt, please?" Usually I'll wait until the hand is over.