How can this happen? (888 software bug?)

[AJG]

And their reply to my reply:

Dear Aaron,

Thank you for contacting 888.

Aaron, I am sorry to learn that you have been forced to pay the big
blind twice in a tournament. This is unfortunate, but it can happen. To
ensure parity during a tournament we will move people from different
tables to ensure that there is an even number of players strewn across
the remaining tables. This process is done entirely at random and can
happen to anyone. Once moved, it may be that someone has to pay the
blinds again.

I do understand that it can be annoying when this happens, especially
when you are moved to a table that seems to be hosting all of the
players with the big stacks - hard to bluff someone out of a pot in that
situation. However, as I am sure you can appreciate the fact that whilst
this rule is in place one can also benefit from it greatly - it may be
that you are moved from table to table and never once pay the big blind.
You may get moved to a table where the players are looser and have
smaller chip piles...

I do thank you for your e-mail Aaron, and we do appreciate all forms of
feedback and I can assure you that we have considered various ways in
which we can change this process but have decided to keep the current
system in place as it seems to be the fairest way of distributing
players and keeping the tables sizes level.

Are they serious?

[bennymacca]

they are just saying that the re-seating of players occurs entirely at random. i.e u could get moved from utg to the button.

[AJG]

I know what they are saying, but suggesting you could play a tourney without having to post a blind???? (or even a few orbits without posting)

And also that the two responses I got are in opposition. 1st says they recognise this as a problem and are in the process of fixing it, 2nd says they are not going to change it.

Having played countless MTTs on Pokerstars and FTP (and live) I have never once even heard of someone having to post BB twice in a row, have you? (apart from on 888.com)

In a field of over 400, surely they can find someone from a table in the same position relative to the blinds to move...
As a programmer, I think their developers are just lazy.

Official Tournament Holdem rules state that no player shall skip a blind as a result of moving tables, so 888.com's moving policy is in direct violation of the rules! And they happily admit it, and try to pass it off as being 'sometimes beneficial' to players...

[Des]

FYI im pretty sure 888 bought the software off pacific poker. So its not 888 coders, it's pacifics. I assume they'll be updating all these issues when they can. Only if they keep getting feedback and not abuse.

These thoughts are from myself and in no way reflect 888 or 888PL.

[AceLosesKing]

Being moved from UTG to BTN or MP to BB in an online MTT just happens sometimes. Nothing you can do about it.

I thought you posted BB twice in a row at the same table? From what I see, they've completely missed this in the reply email.

[bennymacca]

staying at the same table and posting twice is completely different to having to do that when moving tables

i agree that posting twice on the same table is ludicrous.

[AJG]

Being moved from UTG to BTN or MP to BB in an online MTT just happens sometimes. Nothing you can do about it.

I thought you posted BB twice in a row at the same table? From what I see, they've completely missed this in the reply email.

Ahhhh you may be onto something there... I just assumed the saw that,
but in a big enough MTT surely thay can find someone in the position they need to fill to move, it shouldnt be random. As I said, missing a blind (going from utg to the btn) is against tournament holdem rules....

And maybe 888 did purchase PacificPoker, but 888 coders haven't bothered to fix it.

[AceLosesKing]

888 did buy Pacific's software. Over in EU, they're as big, and competitive, as Tilt/Stars as Europe. But they don't have the rights to use that software here... or something. This is what I've been told.

[bennymacca]

just had another bug

i got moved to a table, and first hand in i raised in position. i would have been in the hijack i think

there was a min raise, and 2 callers, then i bumped it up more.

then for some reason, post flop, i was made to act first

i have no idea why, but it was pretty ghey. on all further streets, i acted first as well.

i commented to the other players at the time, and they agreed that i did in fact have to act first.

[Garth Kay]

just had another bug

i got moved to a table, and first hand in i raised in position. i would have been in the hijack i think

there was a min raise, and 2 callers, then i bumped it up more.

then for some reason, post flop, i was made to act first

i have no idea why, but it was pretty ghey. on all further streets, i acted first as well.

i commented to the other players at the time, and they agreed that i did in fact have to act first.

888 decided that you run so good that you were to give up position for the remainder of the tournament?