"If you're calling 17, you're calling 22" -- did Jack Effel screw Dario Sammartino?

[Dan Druff]

The scene:

Down to almost the final 9 in the Main Event, Dario Sammartino had TT preflop and was facing an all-in from another player. He asked for a count, and the idiot dealer counted it as 17 million chips. Dario said "call".

However, it turned out that it was actually 22 million, so Dario was very unhappy, and said that he should only be forced to call 17 million. Jack Effel (WSOP tournament director) was then called over, and (correctly) ruled that regardless of the dealer mistake, his calling the bet is binding.

(It should also be noted that Dario only protested once the hands were turned over, and he saw he was drawing to 2 outs.)

However, when Dario protested, Jack Effel made an obnoxious comment, "If you're calling 17, you're calling 22", which wasn't necessarily true, nor was it his place to say.

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/twt/status/1150233747637194754

What do you guys think of this?

Some have complained over the years that Jack is arrogant and dismissive when dealing with complaints from poker players, and that this was a perfect example.

[Dan Druff]

[GambleBotsChafedPenis]

rule is what it is, but his comment is fucking moronic unless blinds are something like 2M/4M+ and it's the difference between calling 4 and 5 blinds...

[Jayjami]

To me it looks like Jack has had a long day, is tired and a bit cranky. He’s like every floor man at the Commerce. If you catch them at the beginning of their shift, they’re pretty cool, but after about 6 hours on the floor, you don’t want to go near them. They aren’t assholes, they’re just reacting to the stress of their job.

His ruling was correct and he knew it. He was just a little curt in the delivery. His statement that “if you’re calling 17, you’re calling 22” is ridiculous strategically, especially in that situation. I think he’d even admit that now.

[Hockey Guy]

I agree with the seated player that it was a needle & it was unnecessary.

& good on Dario for not letting it affect his play going forward & making the final table in decent chip position. Not great but at least he's there with enough to do some damage.

[sah_24]

I agree with the seated player that it was a needle & it was unnecessary.

& good on Dario for not letting it affect his play going forward & making the final table in decent chip position. Not great but at least he's there with enough to do some damage.

Correct ruling but fuck Effel ...

[AhoosierA]

The way the rule is currently written, it’s the correct ruling.

I hate this rule though. If you ask for a count, and the dealer gives you an incorrect amount, and you act with that amount, that should play into the ruling. I mean, I can’t get up and go over and count the chips myself. Not all dealers break the chips down in an easy way to count. Should we start asking every dealer, every time we get a count, “are you sure? recount it!”

As far as Jack’s comment. He’s a POS who obviously doesn’t know shit about poker.

Calling off 20bb vs calling off 30bb is a HUGE difference. Especially in the worlds biggest stage.