Optional shouldn't feel mandatory.

Texas Card House – Dallas, TX

TL;DR
Bomb pots are technically optional, but social pressure has made them the default. They slow the game, cost players more money, and disproportionately hurt recreational players. We’re asking Texas Card House Dallas to open tables with no bomb pots at dealer change by default, while allowing clearly labeled, opt-in bomb-pot tables for players who want them.

 
From the Players of Texas Card House Dallas & TCH Social
We, the undersigned players at Texas Card House Dallas, are asking for a simple structural change to improve the everyday cash game experience.

Although bomb pots are subject to a majority vote, they have become the assumed norm at many tables. In practice, this makes them feel mandatory—especially for newer and recreational players who may not feel comfortable speaking up.

This petition isn’t about banning bomb pots. It’s about restoring real choice.

 
The Problem: “Optional” in Name Only
When bomb pots become the default:

• Players feel social pressure to go along
• Voting them down feels awkward or disruptive
• The majority-vote rule stops working as intended

As a result, many players end up playing a format they don’t actually want.

Why This Matters to Players

• Bomb pots dramatically slow the game
  One bomb pot often takes 2–5× longer than a normal hand, reducing hands per hour and killing table momentum.
• They are expensive in a time-based system
  Players pay $14/hour for table time, and bomb pots often add $15 every 30 minutes.  Over time this becomes very expensive, affecting recreational players the hardest.  Sitting out a bomb pot isn't really a reasonable option, because it means paying for time without playing  
  Example:
                      ~5min/BP =  $1.17 paid in time 
                       Over a 6-hour session
                       = $14/day in paid time wasted to sit out of BPs.
  
  
• When big pots form, they’re usually coolers
  Modern day bomb pots are played very tight; many bomb pots end in chopped pots, meaning little to no meaningful result despite the extra time and money invested.  When a large pot develops, it’s usually an unavoidable cooler, leaving one player on the wrong end feeling frustrated or awful rather than entertained.
• Dealers and overall table flow suffer
  Bomb pots are slower, more complex, and tedious to resolve, negatively impacting dealers and the quality of the game.

The Solution: Clear Defaults, Real Choice
We propose a simple, player-friendly solution:

All newly opened tables should default to no bomb pots at dealer change.

Players who want bomb pots can open a separate list. Ex: ($1/$2 PLO w/ bomb pots)

This approach:

• Removes social pressure from existing tables
• Makes player preference clear from the start
• Protects recreational players
• Preserves bomb pots for players who genuinely want them
• Improves hands per hour and overall game flow

No one loses options—players simply choose the experience they want.
 
Our Request
We respectfully ask Texas Card House Dallas to:

• Make no bomb pots at dealer change the default for new tables
• Offer clearly labeled bomb-pot tables as an opt-in alternative

This small change improves fairness, efficiency, and the overall health of the poker room.
 
Sign This Petition
If you support:

• More hands per hour
• Less pressure to play unwanted formats
• Fairer costs for recreational players
• A better poker experience overall

Please sign and share this petition.