Here is an update about the International Poker Rules because a lot of people have asked me questions and I give you my personal thoughts on the WSOP rule about hygiene. This is based on my experience during the WSOP and some other places where they host big events.

First of all, it’s great that they organization have showed that they do pay attention to this part of the game. But in order to tell players to look after their personal hygiene, the WSOP has their own problems. The bathroom breaks for example. The facilities offered are by far not enough to handle the rush in the breaks. And if we take a close look, Im really friendly estimate that minimum 75% of the men don’t wash their hands after a bathroom break. We all hate this but it happens for years and years and every great event that goes over their capacity is aware of that. There shouldn’t be any need to use the elbow when we say hello to each other to prevent ourselves. If you know what I mean.

 I am wondering what you prefer?

1.) To have someone that smells bad, didn’t took a shower, is drunk, has stinking
cloths or has a bad breath at your table? Or:

2.) Realize that 3 out of 4 men at the table did not wash their hands after they went to the bathroom for sure holding their willy or worse??!!

In the poker scene it’s respectful to knock the table and wish the all-in player good luck. After he lost you say ‘Good game’ and shake his hand. But do we really want to do this still with the above knowledge now?

What I would like to see is that the rule will lead to action. It should be a part of the house rules. If your personal hygiene isn’t right, you shouldn’t be allowed to come in in the first place. We don’t need to make the story bigger than it is. It’s just part of the door selection like you see at doors of night clubs all over the world. If that’s the house rule, we only have to deal with the ones that slips trough the system and suddenly break that rule. I think we can live with that.

I would like to see a bathroom system that makes any user obligated to wash their hands after using the bathroom. Imagine a line that makes you walk out, after you indeed did wash your hands. But I am afraid that the breaks needs to be a bit longer for this system.

Another thing. Do you ask yourself why poker is mostly a sport for men? Well, maybe women get more attracted if we would have better ratings after using the bathroom. We are talking about a drop of ocean water but we don’t want to see the ocean in front of us. 

So yes. The FIDPA would support an international hygiene rule so we will pay a bit more attention to those tens of thousands that spreading germs around, but we need to make sure that the organizations provides us, the players, the opportunity to follow the hygiene rules.

Enjoy the music

http://itunes.apple.com/album/more-than-just-a-game/id370191819

Marcel Luske