Quote:
I never knew these chips existed! After all, I don’t have x-ray vision, nor would I strain my neck to look for chips positioned in a vacant seat!
TDA rule #37: Players must keep their higher-denomination chips visible and identifiable at all times.
I believe about 800,000 in chips is a very substantial denomination. In fact, at this very late stage of the tournament, it’s a very important piece of information that I require to make important decisions when playing for $28,000! In fact, I’ve just busted out of the tournament knowing full well I don’t make that play against an interested big stack. This missing piece of information cost me my tournament life!
Aside from the fact that "denomination" refers to the value of a single chip and not stack(s), I think the two bolded sections contradict each other:
You acknowledge the importance of the information you are missing, yet you're not willing to expend a little extra effort to obtain that information:
You're coming to a new table from a busted one. If the table is full, then there is someone in seat 1, and seat 2's stack is in front of him. If it's a big stack, then you should notice and be aware of it, right?
If it's not a big stack, then he would have to build it to a big stack while you were at the table. Which means that you should be aware that he now has a big stack because you watched him build it. Or should have.
If seat 1 busts out after seat 2 gets his big stack, then at some point after seat 1 busts out, seat 2's stack is going to suddenly appear a lot smaller: like less than 50% of its previous size (if I'm reading OP right). If you haven't seen him losing a lot of pots, particularly big ones, then don't you think it's suspicious that he now has a small stack?
If seat 2 builds his stack after seat 1 has busted, and keeps sliding his extra stacks to his right, why haven't you noticed that he doesn't seem to have as many chips in front of him as you have seen him win?
If you haven't noticed any of this—either before you sat down or while you were at the table—were you really paying enough attention to gathering important information when you are that close to a big payday in the final stages of the tournament?
I don't think so.
Is $28K worth straining your neck over?
I think so.
Quote:
What would you have done if you were in my shoes?
Argue with the TD for a minute or two, sulk over to pick up my meager winnings (if I cashed), then mope around for a couple of days thinking about how bad I ****ed up.
It's over.
You lost.
Lesson learned.
Move on.
--klez