OK, so I played in a two-table, $40 buy in game last night, had a blast, and finished 3rd.  Technically in 3rd, since we chopped the majority of the money and the final two played for just a few of the remaining dollars.  So it was a good night, for a little while.

I say little while because cashing in another tournament isn't why I'm posting today.  This blog is about trust.  Or now, lack of trust.  I'm extremely disappointed today because I will be writing about a friend who just screwed himself by screwing us.

We have a regular dealer that we invite to come deal our tournaments, and normally pay him to do so.  He has then been invited to deal the cash games that follow, and he works for tips from the players.  On any normal night, his tips usually amount to more than the amount cashed out by most of the players.  We do this because he's a pretty good dealer, and probably needed the money.  I have had him to my house, introduced him to my family, and thought the world of him. 

In the past there has been rumors of him palming chips to make a little extra on the tips, but I had never seen it and refused to believe it.  That all changed last night when he was seen by several players taking a $5 chip off the stack before giving it to the winner....and he admitted to doing it.  Anything else is not material to the discussion.  If he'll do it to that guy, he'll do it to me, and that is the end of it for me.  I believe in trust, especially when we're talking well over $1000 in play at any given time. 

So I'm feeling really disappointed this morning.  I never want to believe that a friend would steal from me.  Now, some might say that he stole from someone else....not me.  Heck, he even said something like "well, it was only XXXX".  True enough.  but XXXX is my friend also, and I don't believe he has ever stolen anything. 

One last point:  stealing from someone at the table and pocketing those chips takes them out of play and means I can't go back and win them later.  So in effect, he stole from me also. 

Some might reply below that this is why they prefer casinos, or this is why they prefer online poker.  I see your point, but a casino dealer can do the same thing, and there have been two major cases so far in online poker where people were caught cheating.  So it can happen anywhere.

I guess my point today is just to watch your back.  Play with people you trust, and if you suspect someone is cheating or stealing, cut them from your game.  Especially when you've given them THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OVER THE YEARS...and they **** you over.