Recently I had to make a decision purely based on what I felt was right. It fell within a gray area, but in my mind, it was a no-brainer. Two issues were at hand. They were both about accommodating players with special needs.
Sometimes it may seem as though special circumstances exist. That's because not all cardrooms are created equally. Some were built long before ADA requirements were enacted. Others, for whatever reasons, haven't updated appropriately or aren't required to do so. We fall into the latter category on our poker cruises. We set up a temporary cardroom in a public space on a cruise ship and we often don't have the luxury of having lots of space between tables.
For able-bodied folks who can squeeze through tight spots, it's no problem. What about the person in the scooter or wheelchair who literally can't get to the open seat at his table once it is called? What special allowances can be made? With more than 25 poker tables in action while cruising the Mexican Riviera, we had customers in wheelchairs and scooters that we hadn't counted on in our original table placement. We changed the layout of the room to accommodate the players we hadn't anticipated. End seats closest to the exit door were reserved for specific players who had limitations.
Because poker is a game for a lifetime that knows no boundaries, those of us who have the authority to change things need to step up and welcome all players. Although there could have been objections to moving game locations and reserving certain seats for certain players, it was the right choice to make and we were able to assist players into the tight spots that throw-together cardrooms present.
We also found that players were willing to change seats or tables in order to assist physically handicapped players. Maybe the world is getting kinder and gentler? We always can hope.
We had similar issues with tournaments. My dad plays in all of our tournaments, God love him. He is 84 and he just doesn't see very well anymore. What happens if he draws an end seat? Or what about handicapped players who can't maneuver the room's odd layout? The answer is easy. The Tournament Directors Association rules clearly state that seating must be random. By reserving certain seats for those with special needs-such as middle seats for folks with vision problems and easy access seats for those in wheelchairs or scooters-the draw remains random, while "special" seats can be assigned randomly to those who need them.
Even the table-breaking order can be easily arranged to accommodate players with special needs. While no one should benefit from an unjust draw, the player who needs an end or middle seat in a broken table situation can still get one without prejudice ... as long as it's done the same way each time, and other seats are randomly assigned.
I had one gentleman who used to play in some events that I ran who was severely handicapped and had a special device made allowing him to slide his cards up over it to see his hole cards. The only seat that worked for him was the No. 1 seat, because he wasn't able to conceal his cards. In that seat, his chips and the dealer could protect him. In all of the events in which I was fortunate to have his patronage; he always got the No. 1 seat at a late breaking table.
These are sensible things to do that improve the game. I implore other tournament directors and cardroom managers to "do the right thing" as long as it is within the acceptable limits of the rules. After all, the floor decision is final.
