Quote:
Originally Posted by junior15
Doesn't this advice contradict the "protect your hand" advice that is given all over this forum?
I've had my cards mucked from
underneath my arms while pushing my stack forward, so I certainly understand the fear.
I'm a huge "protect your hand" advocate, and I take it a few steps further than physically protecting the physical cards. When I'm in a hand I'm aware of everything, especially the dealer's motions. Sure, mistakes can happen, but I'm on the look-out, and my hand is ready to spring into action if I sense the cards might be in danger.
You mentioned a "card protector" hand being mucked... I'm not excusing it, but this is part of why I feel chips are better than a trinket. They're part of the tools of the game provided by the casino, and they more quickly register in the dealer's repetitive-action job.
Being an active participant in the hand (such as, for example, saying "time" when you need more than half a second) not only helps you protect your interest in the hand, it lets others (including the dealer) know that you're in the hand, and know that you know you're in the hand. The guys who get their cards mucked are the guys who sit there quietly, who mumble their actions, who look the other way, who stare at their stacks, etc. They're the people afraid to interact (or, on the other end, are interacting with everything
except the game). Becoming more engaged not only helps you from your end, it registers you in the brains of others, helping protect your hand.
When dealers get a sense that you are aware of your surroundings and respectful of the table, the dealers become a lot more aware and respectful of you.