Poker in a post-vaccine world

Hey all
As we all as a society start to get past this COVID insanity, there is likely many questions about returning to some semblance of "normal". I know I myself miss playing live games with (most of) you all, and was just wondering, from both hosting and attendee perspectives, what you imagine that to look like?
I don't mean like, in 2028, but in the next, let's say, 2 years? What precautions would you still insist on? What standards do you expect from hosts and or your guests as a host when attending a live poker game? Will you limit the number of people (assuming no lockdowns are in place anymore)? Will you insist on PPE? Require proof of vaccination?
I myself figure the following:
As a host:
- I will requite proof that you've had both shots, and have gone past the - I believe - month long post-shot period to have your immune system up to full speed (side note: I'm guessing at the 1 month thing, don't be a dick and be all "Well actually....". I'll double check it when *I* have gotten the shots).
- If people do not wish to provide said proof (i.e. I'll likely want you to send me a PM / text with a pic of the document before attending), then I will have to graciously let you know thaty ou're more than welcome to attend when you have done.
- No PPE's would be required if everyone has the double-shots. I would probably consider something like single-use cups for everyone just to be that extra bit sanitary (also, I don't have like, 40 glasses for guests).
- I would publically post this, and assure people that everyone in my home, and any attendees are required to meet those standards, to ease their own worried minds.
- Number wise, I feel would be limited only by the attendees that meet the criteria, and the capacity of my home (which I figure can easily fit 4, if not 5 tables in the summer (where we can stick a table in the garage).

As a guest at other's places:
- I have been a VERY cautious fella during the past year. I have essentially only gone out for essentials (food, homestuffs, and booze lol). I'm that guy that has been keeping food in the garage for 3 days, or wiping it down with disinfectant wipes before bringing it in. I will not likely attend anywhere until I've had my two shots (and waiting period). I may prefer attending only games that have a similar requirements as above.. but if I'm immunized, I'm not 100% sure.

Thoughts?

Mark

Comments

  • edited March 2021
    I can't wait to get some live poker running again, but that depends on a lot of factors.

    If I'm hosting, I would like everyone attending to be fully immunized. I don't think I'd make them show me proof though. I'd take their word for it. I would definitely try to limit food at the table I think and definitely not include any shared foods (people eating would have to leave the table). Drinks at the table I'd be okay with. Since everyone would be immunized, I wouldn't worry about masks, but I'd probably still have hand sanitizer at the table that I'd want everyone to use when they arrived and any time they left the table and came back (washroom, snack, smoke, whatever). At least at first, I'd probably limit the game to 6 max maybe until I felt more comfortable, and then I'd start increasing it. I'd mostly be hosting cash games anyway, so I'm fine with less than a full table.

    I could technically host up to 27 people for a tournament, but I don't think I'd ever get that much to show up anyway. Maybe one day in the distant future :smile:
  • Yeah I like what @trigs has said, I would never force any on to prove they are immunized. I would take peoples word for it unless there is a really good reason IE player that is immune compromised playing. I would be fine as an admin on the site we could make a badge that shows you have proven you are immunized so people don't have to ask because they have proven to the admin. That takes it a bit far and privacy comes into play and I don't want to be responsible for anything like that.

    I am going to state that peoples homes are peoples homes and they can make up what ever rules they want users to follow when attending their games so some might be fine with it other will be pissed and think its stupid. In my opinion if a host makes a rule you have to show proof to play at their place then there is no complaining about it. I am a privacy and private person but I would have no care in displaying my vaccination status. I feel like it's a safety thing, just my 2 cents and it would be a voluntary badge and no records would ever be kept by the site. Thoughts or idea on this would be appreciated?

    I know for my home games I don't think I will be allowing non vaccinated people to play. Just not worth the risk to my friends and family. and if you want to lie about it and show false proof no one will ever know but you have to try. And hand sanatizer is a must and a few decks of cards that you can change out every hour or so and sanitize them. I think even with just the basic flu this is a good thing to do to keep your chips and cards clean.

    It's a very tough topic to talk about for sure but I am very firm on the science. I'm done talking to people that RESUSE to educate themselves and are non believers based on Facebook groups and random conspiracy crap, it's not a conversation anymore and I'm am 100% okay with saying this. People that refuse to listen to science and refuse to change their unsubstantiated opinions are doing the world an injustice and they should not be part of the conversation anymore and they are not welcome at my place period. It sucks we even have to have this conversation to be honest.

    Would be curious to hear what others have to say also!
  • Question:
    How would you sanitize your cards? I know that the higher end cards, you're supposed to be able to wash them, but I don't think that's something many of us try to do with any regularity... maybe it's a matter of just having enough cards to cycle them through? When do you change decks? I don't about any card specific sanitizers...

    Chips are easy enough to clean, especially if it's just a matter of letting them sit for 3 days (I only intend to do this game weekly at most).

    Mark
  • MrCaspanMrCaspan Admin
    edited March 2021
    I would think most vinyl cards could just be sprayed with a disinfectant allowed to dry. Having a spare deck or two might speed up the process. In my opinion poker is a dirty game and chips have touched everything at that table and same with the cards and this was before COVID!
    thisORthat
  • Thanks for this post Mark and I agree with most points from everyone, however I would only play in someone's home if the rule was that every player has to show proof of vaccination. We all know that the Vaccines are not 100% protection against Covid especially now with all of these variants.
    I agree that most will tell the truth about getting vaccinated but we know some might take a chance and feel they are invisible and tell a white lie to play some poker. I cannot take that chance. To me knowing everyone is vaccinated gives me some peace of mind that I more then likely will not bring it home and infect my wife (She has lung issues so I am really careful and would not be able to live with myself if I infected her.)
    I live in a condo, so I don't have the room to host games, but would love to attend live games once this madness is done.
    That's my 2 cents.
  • I don't know if I'd care about sanitizing the deck while playing a single game, or switching decks in a single game. I mean, I'm not swapping out all the chips, so I don't really see the benefit of swapping cards only.
    After the game, I'd let the cards and chips sit for days and probably clean them also. I also have multiple decks to rotate through.
  • trigs wrote: »
    I don't know if I'd care about sanitizing the deck while playing a single game, or switching decks in a single game. I mean, I'm not swapping out all the chips, so I don't really see the benefit of swapping cards only.
    After the game, I'd let the cards and chips sit for days and probably clean them also. I also have multiple decks to rotate through.
    I know you said you usually just run cash games, but perhaps swapping decks when tables collapse would minimize cross-contamination? I generally think I agree with you here though, date by date, would likely be the most reasonable approach (with sanitizers whenever someone leaves a table / comes back I also like).

    Mark

    trigs
  • Got my first shot, so I can start dreaming of hosting again. Haven’t settled on any rules yet, but the easy ones will be...
    - Must be fully vaccinated. (With proof, but you only need to provide proof once and I’ll keep a list)
    - No playing if you have any flu like symptoms. Game will be cancelled if I have flu like symptoms

    With those two, I can’t see a strong need for sanitizing, but I’m open to the possibility if people felt strongly.

    My hope for what will happen is that, starting in October, I’ll host progressively larger games with the goal of an MXM around Christmas, and 2022 being the return of a regular season.

    All of this, obviously dependent on the state of the world as I’m sure we’ll see a variant that gets past current vaccines due mutations because of the imbalanced socioeconomic rollout of this one along with the mountains of idiots who’ll never get vaccinated because they did “research”

    torontotablecpt
  • I would definitely not play anywhere unless there was proof of vaccination. Also, I am not sure how long it will be until I am comfortable with live play. I will not be rushing out to play until I am sure I will be safe.
    GogieDrTyoreZithal
  • im tired of playing low stakes sit&go,s on Poker Stars....i miss the home games i played and the Casino Brantford tournaments i used to play way back when....i,m wondering when the Casinos open up will Brantford bring back the tourneys......man i enjoyed them...
    Toronto Pimp
  • Yes, they were pretty fun Marban.
  • Yes, they were pretty fun Marban.

    if i remember correctly a couple of times i was to your left and i thought i was pretty safe, until you wilfully attacked my BB...that wasn,t fun lol..
  • I would never do such a thing to a nice gentleman like you. o:)

    Hopefully next year we can play some tournaments in a casino and feel safe.
    marban
  • marban wrote: »
    Yes, they were pretty fun Marban.

    if i remember correctly a couple of times i was to your left and i thought i was pretty safe, until you wilfully attacked my BB...that wasn,t fun lol..

    Just call ! Unless a Duece or Five show up your good. Am I right Mike?
    marbanToronto Pimp
  • You are 1000 % correct........... Sadly :s
    woog30
  • edited July 2021
    What about 'self-contained breathing apparatuses' (SCUBA gear),
    Perhaps in conjunction with hazmat suite? (/r/Jokes)
  • I thought that if you vaccinate and wear a mask, you will not get infected with the virus ... or was I wrong?
  • mosss45 wrote: »
    I thought that if you vaccinate and wear a mask, you will not get infected with the virus ... or was I wrong?

    You can still get infected but it's way less likely and even if you do it will last much shorter and have less chance to spread.
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