The Psychological Edge of...

[deacsoft]

...The String Bet?

I was just reading a post in the general forum where a player string bet at a pot and his raise was forced to be taken back. He was then beat by a player who he thought surely would have folded to the raise (had it been a legal raise). My question is not wether or not the bet should be legal or if the player should know better. My question is this...

...can the string bet be used as a psychological weapon in poker?

Concern 1: Although I have never been aware of a rule that states any kind of punishment for continued string betting, I do think it would be better used very sparingly. Only once or twice a trip when the circumstances are right. I think the over use of this would kill it's edge and probably become an annoyance to the other players at the table.

Concern 2: Would this be considered angle shooting? It would be easy enough to pass off as an honest mistake, but if it were used the player using it would know that it was only being used to gain an edge.

Advantage 1: I believe this could be used to get other players to lay down hands (preflop especialy) without having to actualy raise the pot. The mere thought that you were going to raise but couldn't because you string bet may cause players to fold hands they wanted to play.

Advantage 2: If done preflop in late position other players in the pot may check to the "was going to raiser" for fear of you raising their bet after the flop. Thus, making the string bet preflop may give you the lead in the hand after the flop and could earn you a free card if one is needed after the flop.

Advantage 3: Everyone that plays at cardrooms and casinos regularly knows that string bets happen. They happen to top pros and first timers alike. Sometimes a player just slips and forgets to say raise. However, a player that does it a couple times in a single session may be looked at by some other players as someone who's not really aware of what's going on. In short, they may think you're a rookie because you can't understand that you can't bet like that. This may win you some extra bets later in the session. Other players may begin not to take your raises seriously. This makes it prefect! As I stated earlier, you don't not want to use this move too much in a single night. Maybe just enough to lose some of the respect you're raising was getting you and then tie them on for extra bets.

Example from 100 hands in to the session:
(This is a casino 3/6 limit game. Ten handed.)
You are in middle position with K-Qs. You think a player in late position has you beat with A-Ko. You can see his finger on the trigger waiting to raise. Your read on him is great and you know he's a very tight player. He has only called one of your preflop raises all night and it was with A-A. The two limpers in front of you do not pose a threat. Another player just to your right is a manical player and he raises the pot. You call in one motion and raise in the next. The player from the small blind proclaims, "String bet! You can't do that". You look at the dealer with a puzzled look on your face. The dealer informs you that you placed a string bet and why it was considered a string bet. "You must take back your raise" says the dealer. You do so and from the disappointed look on your face the rest of the table puts you on a big hand. It is folded to the tight player in LP with A-Ko. He mucks! Why didn't he see the flop? He's scared, tight, and can't believe himself that he mucked that hand preflop in a limit game, but convinced himself that he couldn't call a "would be raise" and a real one.
The action continues folded to th BB who calls and one of the original limpers calls. Both are loose passive players. It is a four player pot. The flop comes down rag, ace, rag. The player in the BB pairs an eight but is scarede to bet it because of your string raise and the maniac to your right. It checks to you. You check deciding to take the free card your string bet has earned you. It is a queen giving you second pair. The BB now bets to see if his pair of eights are good. The next player folds and he maniac calls. You raise causing the BB to fold, and the maniac to put in the extra bet. The river is a king. You now have two pair and a maniac who loved that king has just bet in to you. You raise and the maniac reraises. You reraise and he calls. You show your hand and the maniac mucks his hand but flashed a king before doing so. You take the pot. Well done!

All thoughs and comments (in good taste) are, as always, appreciated.

disclaimer: all of what you have just read was based on theory. i have never tried to impliment this play. therefore, i can not say wether it works, could work, or if it is even legal. it is a post to attempt to satisfy my curiousity and to possibly stimulate yours.

[LetsRock]

YEs I think string betting could be used sparingly to gain an edge, and yes it's definately angle shooting.

[Al Schoonmaker]

I completely agree.
Regards,
Al

[Dynasty]

[ QUOTE ]
YEs I think string betting could be used sparingly to gain an edge, and yes it's definately angle shooting.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know if we should consider string betting to be angle shooting. I think it's better classified as rule breaking.

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
I think it's better classified as rule breaking

[/ QUOTE ]

Kind of like betting out of turn?

I think some use it as an angle. But usually you can tell the difference between the honest mistake and the A Holes.

b

[BreakEvenPlayer]

Just another case of Fancy Play Syndrome. Keep putting in solid raises with your good cards, play tight-aggressive poker, read the books, read the forums, study your play... None of this false-string bet nonsense will make you money.