Legally Blind Player in the Money

I found this tidbit about the game interesting...

"The most extraordinary feat of the tournament thus far has been the incredible success of Hal Lubasky, from Las Vegas, NV. Lubasky is legally blind. He has a degenerative eye disease causing him to lose most of his eyesight, except for blurred colors. At the poker table Lubasky uses a “reader” – which means a person sits behind him at tableside and whispers the hole cards into Lubasky’s ear. From that point forward, all table decisions are dictated by Lubasky, so as not to violate the “one player to a hand” rule. His reader is named Jason, who works at a local bar frequented by Lubasky. In what is his first-ever WSOP event, Lebarski has now been guaranteed prize money. Currently, he has 409,000 in chips. Poker has given me back my life,” Lebarski told an ESPN interviewer"

So someone tells him his hole cards, and the rest of the hand is played outloud to him. Curious to know if they do it on EVERY hand or only the ones he is in. Also, with the presence of his "reader", what special consideration was given to him for the one player to a hand rule.

Comments

  • I guess when he's involved in the hand they announce the flop, turn and river. As long as they told him only the hole cards it's fine, but I guess he can't go back and double check his cards like everyone else does before folding.
  • One of my friends played with this guy in a prelim event. He said he slowed play down significantly at the table and was pretty happy when he busted, but still a pretty cool story.
  • Why wouldn't they just use a braille deck at the table?

    I would double check my cards all the time. Psyche'em out.:D

    I was more impressed by the guy who played with his feet.
  • SirWatts wrote: »
    One of my friends played with this guy in a prelim event. He said he slowed play down significantly at the table and was pretty happy when he busted, but still a pretty cool story.

    It is too bad that there was some disadvantage to playing with him because I always enjoy hearing about situations where people break down barriers.

    I would hope that the cards were announced for every hand whether or not he was involved. Otherwise he would be at a disadvantage in terms of analysing other players betting patterns.
  • Who do you get your reads off of, the reader or the blind player. I guess the reader would have to be a good player also.
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