Hello, so I have two questions. If I back one of my friends at a poker cash game table and we're playing at the same table, is it recommended to tell the entire table? What about telling the owner/floor of the poker establishment? Do we have to say we're backed every time a new player sits or is telling the table the first time we sit down at a new table enough?

The place I play at often only has one table running only so it's not like we can easily play different tables. My friend and I don't text during hands, don't cheat, or don't do anything else shady. We play hands the same way vs each other as we would anyone else (no checking it down either).

Can you get banned for backing someone else at same table as long as we don't cheat, don't text during hands, don't check it down, etc.?

Sorry if this is wrong place to post in, Mods please move this thread if needed.

Interesting first post ..

Typically you don't have to alert the table of an arrangement you have with another Player .. and probably really shouldn't since it could result in a different dynamic at the table automatically.

You definitely don't need to alert the room itself unless they have some obscure rule that I've not run across. Don't deny it if a Floor brings it up, but it's really none of their business unless it's affecting the game somehow.

What you need to do is make sure that you are both playing as independently as possible. Obvious slow play can be called out, but is typically just tolerated.

Collusion on the other hand is a major issue. Any signs of working together can generate bans, especially in a low volume room. You don't need a backing arrangement to get banned for collusion.

I don't want to suggest 'not' doing it, but I will say that in a low volume room it will probably cause much more flak than in a larger room where you can be more easily separated during play. Plenty of husband/wife or best friend 'same car' combos out there .. GL

I’ve never seen anyone announce that. Cash game or tournament.

If my wife and I end up at the same table in a tourney, I always make sure everyone knows. We always play it straight up, though. She's easy to bluff and I know if she plays back at me she has the goods.

Where a players' money comes from isn't the issue. My wife and I have separate bankrolls and play at the same table sometimes. We get into it, many times stacking each other over the course of a session. Once people realize we are separate players and non colluding we become the table entertainment

As long as there's no soft play or collusion you should be good.

There's nothing wrong with playing at the same table, and you don't have to announce it to everyone. When I play with my friend, even though we don't like to get into hands heads up we still play out our hands. But yes I know of someone who got banned for staking players in his game.