[ballen]

in a big poker tournament like the ones on tv is there a time limit that someone can leave the table? i left the table for 45 minutes at our last poker night then came back in. two people had gone out and two were left. everyone gave me hell and said that was a form of cheating.

[DeepBlue]

I'm surprised you weren't ejected from the table! Whereas I think there are guidelines, you generally don't sit down unless you're going to play.

The guys were being stupid because it's highly unlikely you were cheating, and if so what took 45 minutes? Sourcing somebody to pay to tell you what cards the others had? No, they were probably just a little pissed at you disappearing mid-game - I know I would be!