Home cash game situation
 

Playing a cash game with buddies last night. It's really friendly, with a tinge of seriousness (if someone's asks you what you had, you tell them to go pound sand...but with a smile.)

Heads up on the river. A third diamond comes and I was pretty sure my buddy made his flush. He pushed his last $8.50 into a $25 pot.

I had about $80. Like I would in a tournament, I pulled out $8.50, just to get a visual of what it means to me. I placed it right in front of me, without saying anything.

My buddy immediately did a big windmill big arm swing to lay his cards on the table. I screamed "No...hold on....dear god don't show me your cards...aaaagggh!" (or something like that). Before he could stop, his flush was face up on the table.

One guy thought I was committed to calling because I'd pulled my chips out, other didn't think so, and yet others had no idea.

My buddy is pretty easy to read, so I was 60-40 to fold my top two pair.

Should I have been committed to call his bet? Or what do we do in this situation?

Re: Home cash game situation
 

I have a line on my table, to call you must push your chips over it. prevents problems like you had.
To answer the question, I would need more info, mainly, how big is the table, and where was the stack of 8.50 when you put them in front of you. WAs it right infront, half way between you and the pot, makes a big difference. If it was right infront of you I would say you never called.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

This was a big dining room table...9 of us were seated at it comfortably. The chips were, say, 3 inches in front of me, and about a foot away from the fringe of the pot.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

Time to use a "verbal declaration" rule.

steve
<font color="orange">North Shore Low Rollers</font>

Re: Home cash game situation
 

I always thought the rule was as long as your chips were behind your cards your ok. Once you put your chips in front of your cards its considered a bet.

Using a line works well too.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

[ QUOTE ]
I always thought the rule was as long as your chips were behind your cards your ok. Once you put your chips in front of your cards its considered a bet.

Using a line works well too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Home cash game situation
 

The thing about a line is that this is a wooden dining room table. Ain't no lines going to be painted/scratched/drawn on that thing without the wrath of wife coming down.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

Masking tape, perhaps?

Re: Home cash game situation
 

I would say you never made the bet if the chips were that close to you. Since you can't make a line on your table, go with the verbal call is binding rule

Re: Home cash game situation
 

hard to say without actually seeing it, but I suggest that next time you declare, "lemme see how much that is" or something to that effect as you get out chips while still pondering.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

From the sound of it I think you were ok. People do get confused from time to time and misinterpret actions. That being said, I've seen some do nearly exactly what you described in such a way as to shoot an angle. I'm not saying that's what you did but just pointing out that your actions certainly weren't crystal clear to everyone. Anything you can do (verbal declare, etc.) to eliminate confusion would be a good idea.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

If you didn't have a rule about where the line was, then donate the $8.50 and consider it goodwill.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

So we haven't heard... were the chips in front of or behind your cards as you were considering the bet?

Re: Home cash game situation
 

Depends on house rules. In AC any chips placed in front of your cards are considered a bet. However I've never seena home game with strict enforcement of that rule, unless the table has a betting line. Tough situation there, if your game never has a betting line or a clearly defined rule I'd explain that IW as merely counting. If it does and you moved your chips out too far then you have to give it up.

Good luck,

Matt

Re: Home cash game situation
 

If you knew you had $80 and the bet was $8.50 in a Non-tournament cash game, then why did you have to do all of that posturing? (Or as many call it "Getting air time"). Take off the hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses and call or fold.

When tables are used that don't have a betting line, it's a bet if made verbally, or the chips are placed in front of the cards. In a home game, you should establish these rules ahead of time.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

They were in front of my cards...but not near the pot.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you didn't have a rule about where the line was, then donate the $8.50 and consider it goodwill.

[/ QUOTE ]

In the end, that's what I did. He's a friend and, in the end, that rules the day. And when he turned over his flush cards, I was leaning to making the crying call.

Honesty is the best policy.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

I think you did the right thing letting him have the money, as you said all friends and it is only 8 bucks, plus it sounds like you're up for the night still right?
Next time just to be safe, state "let me see how much I'll have left" before you start counting.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

[ QUOTE ]
They were in front of my cards...but not near the pot.



[/ QUOTE ]

In AC that's good enough to be considered a bet. Many dealers won't enforce it but every now and then you'll get a stickler.

Good luck,
Matt

Re: Home cash game situation
 

[ QUOTE ]
They were in front of my cards...but not near the pot.

[/ QUOTE ]This is definitely a call. In fact, I think if I saw somebody do this in a casino, I'd assume it was a) ruled a call by the floor b) an angle-shoot by the player.

Putting the chips on the OTHER side of your cards is pretty sketchy. I understand dividing them out, but if you want to see what calling looks like, don't be surprised if it looks like a call.
-Sam

Re: Home cash game situation
 

[ QUOTE ]
hard to say without actually seeing it, but I suggest that next time you declare, "lemme see how much that is" or something to that effect as you get out chips while still pondering.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good advice, but the other player should learn PATIENCE. Next time around he might not be up against someone as good-natured as OP.

Re: Home cash game situation
 

If you don't have a hard and fast rule about chips placed in front of your cards being a bet, then I think you need to look at the surrounding circumstances. Where do you usually put your chips when you are betting. If its near the same place you put these chips there is no question that it should be considered a bet. But it sounds like you guys are used to splashing the pot or coming real close. If thats standard for how you play than putting chips just in front of your cards shouldn't be considered a bet (of course you have other problems if you have a game where players throw there chips into the pot.