Well of course we didn't see everything but does that really make a difference? I don't really care how long he has been tanking like a boss, he might have done it 5 minutes a hand. What he didn't do at any point though is be offensive to other players in a way that is like "omg clown hurry the **** up and go play your $1 tournament or 2/5 cash, you have like 4% in this tournament". If he had said any of that stuff I am sure they would have loved to broadcast those parts.

So their complaint is that he tries to provoke reactions and wastes time. I think they are right but he is still within the rules and that is the problem. Make the rules such that this is no longer acceptable or have a clear policy that TDs act quicker on this. The problem isn't the one guy, all these tourney players tend to slow down considerably especially with 3 tables left. All previous years have been a bunch of nit grinders tanking about every decision that is only barely tolerable. It's just that he is doing it rather obvious that everyone all of a sudden has a problem with it.

The way to handle it is to politely ask him to stop talking during a hand because you are distracted. If he doesn't voluntarily do this, ask the dealer/TD to pay attention to it and when it becomes obvious put severe penalties on it. This allows fun players to occasionally talk/have fun during hands but also addresses these cases where you have a clear multiple offender totally playing within the rules. In other words; TDs should have some friggin common sense.

Bleznick came off poorly, but dear god you are all absolutely insane if you have any love for The Clown. He comes off as an awful person to be around and would ruin the mood at any game.

can't wait to see him eliminated. so terrible for poker

Actually a registered Democrat as would be obvious if you paid attention to his cry-bullying and smug sense of entitlement.

Ok enough with Kassouf.
Can we talk a little bit about the magnificent laydown of James Obst ?

He was taking 8 minutes on a hand, and would sit for 45 seconds before folding 83 offsuit pre flop. I am sorry that is annoying as hell. The editing did not show the amount of tanking this fool was doing. The speech stuff is whatever, but trying to tilt people by tanking is completely out of line. It was very apparent to me, that he stalls to frustrate people.

this

easiest laydown ever

it made me want to as well

what a dick this guy is. who says any of what he said to anyone ever? especailly when he goes around saying that there's "*******s" in poker. gmafb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtFQO2qj6eQ

I don't think the Obst laydown was that easy, considering Obst value bet the river. I guess he thought there were no bluffs in his river range, and the bottom of the value range was a couple high flushes. No sure tough. I would love to hear someone with better poker knowledge break the hand down.

I am pretty sure people that like kassouf would vote for trump lol

Getting back on topic.

In Episode 4, Jack Effel doesn't really do Stacy Matuson any favours.
If you rewatch it you'll see that when he comes over, he argues loudly with Kassouf through her entire 'clock time'.
There is barely any moment in the hand that isn't filled with someone arguing.
I think all she wanted was a bit of time to think.
(Also the guy who calls the clock in some way actually comes off as more annoying than Kassouf lol)

Kassouf is annoying and talks too much, he knows it, that's his game plan. Everyone in the video seems to make mistakes (including Stacy who probably should have used more of her time to think about her hand, rather than join in with any of the arguements).

It makes for interesting TV, but not an easy spot to be in (2hr blinds 10 hours a day, with the cameras on you etc.)

Kassouf hand gestures are kind of funny , but after he does it twice he's asking for trouble (it's like he's giving the people in charge the finger, showing he's found a way around their rules).

post #129
post #165
I agree with rockin, a line has to be drawn somewhere. I think everyone agrees that some talking is allowed, but a decision has to be made at some point of when it becomes excessive chatter/taunting.

I think maybe a simple adjustment they could make would be, that if someone calls the clock, then that clock time is in complete silence (nobody talks). Or at least the last 30 secounds of clock time is in silence. This would give any player enough time to think and make their move without distraction.

Just stopped by to say that Jack Effel's ruling in episode 12 was absolutely horrendous.

Dude should be ashamed of himself.

that was EPIC. So impressive. I am afraid I could not lay that down. He is such a great player. Too bad some autistic "speech player" (lol) shadows the real heroes of the ME.

I wish he actually showed the full house and followed up with this conversation
----
Ruane: "lays down a monster"
Ruane: "should have paid me off on that"
Ruane: "the fcuk did you lay that down?"
Obst: "hehe not hungry?"
Ruane: "Mr son of a bitch, lets play some cards"


Pons UTG raise to 450k with KdQd
Ruane calls on button with 9c8c (stack 21.5)
Obst calls on sb with 7s7d (stack 25.4)
Nguyen calls on bb with 9h6c

Pot is 2.040.000 and Flop goes Qs7cJc

Pons bets 625.000
Ruane 3bets to 2.025.000
Obst 4bets to 5.300.000
Nguyen folds
Ponds folds
Ruane calls

Pot is 13.265.000 and turn goes Qs7cJc 10c

Obst checks
Ruane bets 3.750.000
Obst calls

Pot is 20.765.000 and river goes Qs7cJc 10c 10d

Obst bets 4.700.000
Ruane raises all in 12.480.000

Obst: "it looks like you have a straight flush or you could be the best actor of all time"
Obst folds

imo
Ruane is never raising A high flush otr because of the paired board and if Obst does not believe he could bluff shove there (which would be insane sick move based on the action and stacks) he puts him on straight flush ... or set of JJ or QQ. Still incredibly hard fold.

Do people who hate Kassouf and the other people at the table vote for a third party?

what episode are those quotes from?

He was trying to get the table in order, and part of his job, believe it or not is to ensure that reasonable measure are taken to ensure that the game runs smoothly. Kassouf was taking 9 minutes a hand ( editing does not show the full extent of how long he took) and he would stall and take over a minute to fold 83 off suit.

He was 100 percent using these stalling tactics to frustrate people to his own benefit and that is a violation of the spirit of the game. Personally, I would have given him a penalty.

I was kind of half watching and noticed he was getting yelled at by Jack Effel for asking an all-in player questions during a heads up pot. That's not illegal. I guess he just lost all goodwill and the TDs were auto-ruling against him. With that incident in isolation I would take Kassouf's side.

Good thing you are not a tournament director then.

haha idk man, I was just trolling the trolls

I think if a player has clearly indicated he neither wants nor will engage in conversation after going all-in, or any time for that matter, another player shouldn't be allowed to incessantly badger and attempt to coerce the other player into conversation.

his hand is effectively a bluff catcher by the river.

Really interesting river line from obst to donk fold

Donk fold? The action was Bet, Raise, All-in, Fold.

No, Obst lead river.

Ok maybe I'm wrong. One thing interesting to note is that the actual hand took 18 minutes to play out with all the legitimate tanking. TV replay makes it appear pretty quick like Obst just snap-folded, but if you read the live write-ups at the time, the hand took 18 minutes.