Eating at the poker table: should it be allowed, or not?

Tammy · Oct 14, 2023

Should poker players be allowed to eat at the table? Explain your answer. If yes, can it be any kind of food or only specific foods?

Goggelheimer · Oct 14, 2023

I don't think that this should be allowed.
I have seen a lot of different eating habbits in my life, starting with eating with fingers.
If you want to mave marked Cards with fat mark on them allow eating at the table.
Also the Club or tournament staff has to have more Card decks because they have to take out those dirty Cards more often.
So don't allow it.

RhinoRyan89 · Oct 14, 2023

Hi @Tammy

I would have to vote no eating at the poker tables.

As to many people eat with there mouths open and I cannot stand it.

strokin07 · Oct 14, 2023

My personal opinion is that eating at the poker gaming table is not entirely aesthetically pleasing and, moreover, eating at the gaming table during the game may embarrass other players present at the table. 😉

waisichy · Oct 14, 2023

Tammy said:
Should poker players be allowed to eat at the table? Explain your answer. If yes, can it be any kind of food or only specific foods?

If it’s shareable then yes! Or if there really isn’t adequate breaks to get food and it’s a long tournament then that’s also acceptable.

Rickyrihari · Oct 14, 2023

On differing platforms, it is a primary part of what a host prepares as a natural part for every paying client/attendee (Private games by invitation only) however, on the international platform it differs completely. Players are permitted to bring their own drinks or snacks, or buy them through a host of an establishment. Personally, players are there to compete to, take as much as possible in real money, eating and drinking aren't the purpose, therefore there must be room for eating and drinking at a table, given the timeframes which naturally take place during any tournament. Light snacks only, not 3 course meals, is fair, and appropriate in my opinion. Unless medical conditions apply for diabetics etc, which is understandable and ethical.

WellAA · Oct 14, 2023

You can chew anything You like, please with the mouth closed though.
Don't put nothing over the table specially drinks, over the table just cards and chips.

zorro222_zorro222 · Oct 14, 2023

Wow, great question.... I think that eating at a poker table while playing poker should not be allowed. Unfortunately there are some people that are messy eaters and it can be annoying for other players and it could also open up the opportunity for cheaters, not only giving them the chance to mark cards but other ways as well. I have played in cash games where a few of the players were eating and it wasn't a big deal because they were being respectful of other players but unfortunately there are those that wouldn't be. I suppose candy or gum should still be allowed though so I guess it depends on whoever is running the game to decide where the line should be drawn.

king11682 · Oct 14, 2023

It depends on what you eat; If you are going to eat heavy meals it is not recommended and it makes you look bad in front of the other players and it is possible that you will dirty the table or the cards.
It could be some cookies.

Marshmalo1994 · Oct 14, 2023

According to "friends", only monosyllabic snacks are allowed 😅
I think that is limited to common sense. For example, I don't see any problem in eating a cereal bar, but I'd hate to see someone eat some doritos and then touch the cards and the chips.
Maybe each casino could have a special menu of food or snacks allowed at the tables at their own criteria.
It make sense?

Gritz18 · Oct 14, 2023

Tammy said:
Should poker players be allowed to eat at the table? Explain your answer. If yes, can it be any kind of food or only specific foods?

In my opinion, yes.

The vast majority of live tournaments last several days, the player arrives in the morning and only leaves late at night.

I think he has to eat to get through the long day, but only quick foods (Snacks), as they can have a better meal during the break, which is usually an hour.

vitas_top · Oct 14, 2023

I think it's okay to eat at the poker table, but you should do it decently.

belizebum · Oct 14, 2023

Well as usual I have two takes on this. Depending on the food, I say yes. No finger foods, only things that dont make a ton of noise when you eat them and obviously not a buffet. I get hungry often and if I dont eat, well then you get hangry!!! And nobody wants that. Even on short road trips, I take a bag of nuts with me.
Now if there are reasonable scheduled breaks, not 5 mins like online poker, then you should be able to grab something and eat it away from the table.
A lot of people are annoying when they eat and are slow eaters, so that too may change my answer to no. Maybe they make a rule at the table, if you are eating, you are considered sitting out. Then you dont interrupt the play, but still get to watch things happening at the table.

pentazepam · Oct 14, 2023

1. On the positive side the way people eat can give away information. Just ask Kid Poker:

2. On the negative side it can make you run to the bathroom - even if you are not the one that is eating. Just look at the gross table manner of Phil Hellmuth:

3. All ladies should of course only drink with a straw so they don't mess up their lipstick. Like the lovely Sia the Bot:

So allow it. But please show some class.

PS
The 3rd one was a joke.

Dejana · Oct 14, 2023

Nope - that's what breaks are for....BUT, if I'm really hungry, and I know I have chocolate bars in my bag, I'll take one, put it in my mouth, and offer everybody at the table!

Imagine a large portion of spaghetti, and you keep spinning it with a fork forever...

Canaldo Kao · Oct 14, 2023

In my opinion, when poker players want to eat, they have to have a tray outside the table and wash their hands very well when picking up cards, that's the minimum of ethics!

YLAN · Oct 14, 2023

There is no official rule (or house rule that I've encountered) saying you can't eat at the poker table probably due to some compelling reason like player's well being. Heard of a player with ulcer who needs to eat every now & then. Also a player who didn't have a full meal rushing to the tourney & almost fainting. I myself wouldn't like to leave the table for a quick snack or drink when low stacked.

But in this regard, prudence & etiquette dictate that there should be restrictions so as to avoid the hands getting messy before handling cards & chips on the table. Use a side table, eat with utensils, no cold drinks that moists, no talking or laughing, completely wipe fingers before handling chips & cards. It would be impolite if otherwise.

Have a theory that peeps eating at the table only plays very good hands. Its to their disadvantage that can be exploited.

antonis32123 · Oct 14, 2023

i don't believe it is forbidden so why not eat at the tables ?? Also i havent seen any player complaining about this at a table , at least not at any video , stream of a live poker tourney or cash game . I have seen cash games where great well known players or pros eat then play then chat , and noone complaints . Also at tourneys the same

Tourneys last far too long , the break might not be enough for some people . A snack might be needed , why cant he have one when he wants . you can impose some other rules , oh how to eat at the tables , what precautions to take so as not to create any problems , to keep clean your hands as much as possible , decks of cards change every some time , so i guess eating at the tables , if it is done with a respectful way , then it causes no harm to anyone .

Jedrey · Oct 14, 2023

I don't think it's cool to eat at the poker table, some water is fine, but the breaks are for that it's more convenient, depending on the person the cards would get dirty and food would fall on the table and that's not pleasant.

hilary antonik filho · Oct 14, 2023

I don't approve of eating at the table when we're playing poker, that's a big lack of hygiene and respect for the other players, I don't agree anymore when they drink. I've seen so many absurdities that I don't like to comment on, table dirty with residue, cleaning the handsWhen they use the deck more than once, in addition to being disgusting, the cards are marked, I leave the table and I never went back to that poker house

Ruslan L · Oct 14, 2023

Tammy said:
Should poker players be allowed to eat at the table? Explain your answer. If yes, can it be any kind of food or only specific foods?

In my opinion, it is wrong to forbid eating. I think players are entitled to a light snack, but it should be food from a specially designed menu, not any food at the player's request

As for the specially designed menu, I suggest to our community members to suggest at least one dish that they would like to see on this menu

I suggest adding a cookie in the form of chips to this menu

ammje · Oct 14, 2023

I think eating should be allowed, playing live must be very boring, so eating something delicious is a good distraction.

SES Inc. · Oct 14, 2023

I think you are there to play cards. That is it . It's a war, do you stop for tea in the middle of battle and have finger food? NO!

tagece said:
I see no problem in eating during a live game. I just think that certain types of food, with a very strong smell, that could bother other players or that could damage the cards should be avoided.

I saw a pro get heckled for ordering French fries . They told her she would make the cards greasy if she ate them.

najisami · Oct 14, 2023

Before sitting at a poker table, one should eat and be prepared to play for a while without food till break time.
Eating at poker table is not prohibited as far as I know, but it is not a life-or-death situation either, waiting two or three hours wouldn't kill anyone and would certainly be more appropriate. But if it's really necessary for whatever reason, a couple of cereal or energy bars would hit the spot without the mess.
So, in my opinion, any kind of messy food should not be allowed at the poker table.

PS : A nice stack of pancakes with that much syrup might be difficult to resist though 🤪.

Fofa · Oct 14, 2023

Whether poker players should be allowed to eat at the table depends on the duration of the game. In shorter games or tournaments, it may be more practical to have a "no eating" policy to maintain focus. However, in longer games, allowing food might be necessary, but it's advisable to limit it to specific, less disruptive foods to ensure a better gaming experience...

Eating at the poker table: should it be allowed, or not?

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