Pot committed

[eastbay]

I hear this phrase a lot but it has never been really clear to me what it means, if anything.

I hear people at the tables bitching about how they are "committed" and then proceed to call off the rest of their chips with 9 high, or whatever.

I suspect this idea may be misunderstood or overused.

I don't ever consider myself committed. I always weigh my chances wit the chips I have left vs. the chances I have of making the call and taking the pot. I'll lay down with 600 chips in the pot and 200 left if I think my chances are better with the 200 chips than of taking the pot. I don't do it often, because I try not to get into that situation, but I do think it is the right decision sometimes.

People seem to worry about how many of "their" chips are in the pot. Well, it doesn't matter. Once you bet, those chips aren't yours anymore. Each decision has to be made on its own merits, and chips in the pot never have your name on them.

Thoughts? When and why do people consider themselves "committed"?

eastbay