High Society’s First Tournament has ‘Add-on’ Controversy

High Society’s first tournament is in the books with Adrian Luna being named tournament champion in what ended up finishing in a three-way chop.

While this tournament has mostly heard praise, there was one big complaint on Facebook today from Pete Raya, who has won several tournament championships here in El Paso. He was very upset that he did not get the add-on, even though he was only 5 minutes late. Here is the post from Raya:

I could understand being upset about a lack of consistency, but this was High Society’s very first tournament. Raya also said that he can understand this rule, but that it should be posted. I could also see that. But I think High Society tournament organizers felt that it was an industry standard not to allow an add-on after play has started.

I reached out to High Society for comment, here was their reply on messenger:

”So we did not allow him (Raya) and another gentleman to do their add-on on Day 2. It was not only Pete. The add on is just like the Day 1 add-on. If you do not do the add-on before the first hand is dealt after the break, you do not get the add on. He is comparing us to clubs that make you play one hand before being able to register on Day 1. Call any club or casino and ask them if you need to play one hand in order to register or if you can register during the break on Day 1 of a tournament. Look at it as someone getting blinded out to advance a few pay jumps and saying, ‘well the add on is now worth me purchasing because of my return’.”

“There was also one hand where a player exposed his hand accidentally and the floor made a decision on that specific situation that his hand was not dead. We spoke about it as a team and decided regardless, players need to be aware of what’s going on in the hand and any exposed cards will be dead. That situation actually came up two more times and one of them was by accident, the player’s hand was announced dead and will be in the future. It was our first tournament and I knew we were going to have a couple of hiccups but all and all I am very pleased with how everything went. I feel there are way more positives than negatives.”

I also reached out to Sun City and House of Kings for comment on their official policy. 

Sun City Card Club owner Larry Ayoub responded:

“Although we do highly recommend all finalists show up on time for the final, we have allowed players to get the add-on when running a few mins late. We allow it up to 5 mins or so at the floor’s discretion. It really hasn’t been a problem. We had 2 players run 5 mins late to our last tournament. We made the decision to allow the add on.” 

I told Larry I think there should be an official policy, maybe allow through first level, but all players’ chips have to be on the table getting blinded out as soon as the tournament starts. He responded:

“A great solution to this is to ask the finalists at the end of each Day 1 Flight to buy the add-on at that time. I will be asking our tournament director to implement this in February.”

I was also able to get comment from House of King’s Victor Jacquez:

“On our Day 2, our members that get there before the tourney starts must decide if they are getting the add on before the first hand is dealt. Members running late have until the end of the 3rd round to enter and will be blinded out until they get there. If they get there before the end of round 1 you’re still allowed to buy the add-on. We have called different poker rooms in Vegas, California, New Mexico, Arizona and some clubs in east Texas. Most of them have their own rules. We adjusted ours to where we thought it would be fair for our members.”

Tournament players also were willing to share their opinions. Claudia Medina made the final table, and is a regular at El Paso poker tournaments. She also has played tournaments all across the country. Here is what she had to say:

“I completely understand why a dealer appreciation add-on would not be allowed after the start of the final day of the tournament. Everyone was on time except for two players. I understand that things happen that might cause players to be late. However, it is not fair to anyone in the tournament who purchased the add-on chips, and sat with the add-on chips at risk. I, for one, appreciate that rules like this are being implemented. I feel that El Paso poker has a very long way to go to catch up to the bigger cities, especially where rules are concerned. But all in all High Society ran a very successful first time tournament.” 

I certainly understand Raya’s frustration, but I think High Society was fair in the handling of the situation. And while High Society probably feels ‘no add-on after play has begun’ goes without saying, I also think it wouldn’t hurt for any club to put a little disclaimer on the flier, or listed on rules that players have access to reading before the tournament begins. I think Sun City has a fair idea, and I would like to see it be implemented, or at least have an official rule that isn’t left to the floor’s discretion.

El Paso poker players!!! Please comment and let El Paso card clubs know which rule you would like implemented.