It seems that once I have a problem with a player, everytime I deal to them (and my line-up is a guaranteed road map through the land mine zone they are playing in) it’s going into blastoff – prepare the launch pad – begin ignition- anyone wishing to survive the heat, please move back. I can’t move back because I’m locked into the Box.

So it is with Jimmy T. – $10-20 NLH player that had fits with me last week. It was a much bigger fit this week. It went like this:

I sat down in a Must Move $10-20 NLH, collected Time and dropped it, spread a new deck, and as I scrambled/shuffled the three players in the 7-8-9s were called to move to the Main Game. Jimmy was one of them.

First, the rule. Unless you have taken a Blind, you must move immediately because you are dealt in for free in the Main Game and not forced to post. If you have taken a Blind, you may move immediately, if you wish, or play through your Button before going.

None of the three players were in the Blind so I dealt them out.

Holy Shit! Jimmy went into screamer mode. “Deal us in! We are allowed one more hand!” only put that in broken English along with sputtering and snorting, hand motion, eyeball popping, bouncing up and down in his chair. “Get the Floorman!!!!”

I stopped the deal at the Button, the other players each had one card. I called for a decision. No one came…of course. It would have been too easy if someone had been right there.

He was in continual rant, “This dealer! Always a problem…boring blah blah…ultra blah blah…blah…we always get one more hand…”

Me, “No you don’t. You have to move immediately and you are dealt in for free in the Main Game.”

The other two players I dealt out took up the cry. Jimmy had them convinced that the only thing wrong with the poker room was me.

He couldn’t find the brakes, “You always make a problem…” more ranting than God could keep up with going on here. “What is wrong with you? Why do you want to cause a problem with the players?”

Me, deck in hand, action stopped, I had called again for a decision and Boba went to find Kamell, “I’m always a problem when I deal…”

Ok, I was interjecting a bit of sarcasm and spite but I’ve listened to this Fizz Ball rant and rave for four years when things don’t go the way he thinks they should go.

The other two players got up and moved to the Main Game. Jimmy sat there, still spewing and gesturing, “This fucking dealer! Just back the cards up and give me another hand.”

I lost it here! “No! You wanted a fucking decision and we are going to sit here and wait so you can have your fucking wish!”

No one said a word. We waited. Kamell arrived. I explained what happened. Jimmy jumped into the middle of it, complaining that I was THE problem, continuing that they always get one more hand when they are called to the next game.

Kamell told him to stop. The other players at the table told Kamell I was doing my job and Jimmy was not being fair to me.

Jimmy never slowed down, he was still spewing and gesturing, “This dealer…always a problem…”

Kamell told Jimmy he would talk to him away from the table but that was enough, I was only doing my job.

Jimmy finally got up, moved his chips to the Main Game, and the Must Move went on. Of course I’m a problem because I won’t let him run the game the way he wants to run it.

On my little swearing outburst, am I sorry? NO! Do I feel justified? NO! Did I lose it? YES! You can only take so much crap from someone before you have to jump and kick them in the throat – verbally or physically. I personally believe that all he is understands is hostility and vocal confrontation and that’s what I served him – the same thing he’s been dishing out to me for years.

After Jimmy left the table and the game went back into gear, one of the players at the table told me he was sure I could take Jimmy in fight. Hysterical! Fighting really ain’t my bag.

But on to the problem with a player…last week found me in a confrontation with Walter when I told him he had to ‘call’ because he cut off chips in the $80-160 H. Tonight found me in another situation with him. The game was $200-400 Mixed. And we were in the Holdem segment.

Walter was UTG and cut off four $100 chips. Two players folded behind him and he picked up two of the chips as if he now intended to call the BB instead of raising.

I said, “The raise has to stand, there’s action behind you.”

He hesitated for about 30 seconds.

David L. said, “It looked like a raise to me.”

Walter put out the other two $100 chips and the game went on. But WTF???? I’m not sure if he was testing me or if it was a mistake on his part.

I keep telling myself, it’s only a game, Linda. Right! But who’s playing it and what are the rules? This ain’t only about poker.