My last cash game didn't go well. And, not just because my two pair (AJ, raised preflop, raised post flop, and raised the turn) got sucked out on the river by a weak 6-2 flush draw (the villain had no pairs on the board and only a draw to call and still put all his chips in without proper pot odds to do so).
No, the major issue this time came in the form of a scene straight out of the movie 21. The host called me and my best friend to a back room in the middle of my cash game. He brought his muscle man with him. At first I had no idea what the issue was and thought he just wanted to tell me a joke. Then he explained (albeit nicely) that someone at the table thought that my best friend had been taking a video of the game. My best friend had photographed me and my chips, but that was the extent of the recording of events. But, when you're dealing with 20-year-olds who take poker a little too seriously and who are throwing around large amounts of cash, these kinds of things can turn nasty very quickly. It also didn't help that they know I work for the federal government, that I've occasionally broken out into Russian at the tables (a couple of the Mongolian players speak a bit), and that I'm relatively new to the group.
Hell, even I'd have thought I was a narc.
But, as much as I may complain about the situation with the back room, it was 100% my fault. He was my guest and, while he didn't do anything wrong, I should have been more sensitive to how things might appear to the other players. After all, even though I have a good repore with most of the players there, a couple them I really don't know well enough to have assumed that lax social behavior would be okay. And it was someone among those couple I don't know well who complained.
On my way out, the host said that he hoped we weren't mad at him and that we'd come back. I explained that he had every right and obligation TO say something to us and that I completely understood, which I did.
That being said, I don't think I'm going to bring guests along anymore unless they also decide to play... having someone watch you for hours when you know they're bored out of their skull isn't fair to them, isn't fair to you (since it makes you distracted and you feel the need to entertain them), and creates an environment where odd things are bound to happen.
This weekend I'll be playing a tournament out in Gainesville, VA. I'll bring my best frind along if he plays the satellite entry tournament. This group is MUCH more easy going, so I doubt anyone would care if photos were taken (in fact, the hosts always take photos themselves). But, to be on the safe side, we'll be on our best behavior. It's hard enough finding places to play. It's even worse when the places that you do find assume you're a narc and there to bust them.
Tempted to wear a suit, tie, and federal badge to the next event just to make them really nervous.
