Your call?

[godofgamblers]

Hi, just some background info for this controversy. I'm in a college dorm, and we've been playing for about a year and a half. Nothing ever in dispute really happened, and I'm recogized as the best player, so usually I call most rules. This time it involved me, so didn't make the decision. I'm the classic LAG player, raising or calling raises 6/10 hands preflop, and as a result, busting many aces and kings with 26's and such. That day, indeed I had busted a couple kings and queens with a few flopped two pairs or trips with 68 and the such, annoying a bunch of people. We're all great friends outside of poker and even inside poker it's a really friendly atmospher, but onto the story.

Now the most important part is the way I bet. I grab a stack of chips, and release two chips at a time horizontally across the "pot area". For example, I'd usually grab about 12 $1 chips, and lay down 2 stacks of $2 each for 4 dollars total all while my arm hasn't left the pot, but not really in one motion. Kind of like when pros play with their chips before putting in the pot.

Now this time i pick up QQ UTG+2 and raise it up and amazingly get 6 callers. The pot is huge, and UTG bets something like 3 dollars into a QJ9 two suited flop. I immediately say "I'll make it...", (which is usually what I say, we never say raise) and I grab a stack of chips and already am in the process of making piles of 2 chips each as usual, when I realize the pot is already 25 dollars and I have max 12 bucks in my hands with 6 callers. So i placed 5 piles of $2 each, and announce 18 before my arms leave the pot area and I go back to get more. One of my friends says I can't do that and it's string betting. I said my arms were still in the pot when I said it, and this is a homegame and it might even be true in the casino that its a legal move. He said no I cant do that because its string betting. I said I announced 18 even before the last pile of chips was placed in the betting. He said no, and I said ok lets post this on twoplustwo and find what the forums say for $50 bucks. I mainly said it because I knew this pot was going to be at least 50 bucks, and if I really only raised it to 10, I'd prob get a bunch of callers and lose the pot even with top set. He agreed so now here we are...

Would you accept this action, especially if you were in a home game, and secondly what would the casino ruling be?

[godofgamblers]

I'd like to act that while I put my chips in, my hands never/didn't leave the pot area, and I always announce what I'm betting. I thought the most important part was that I announced 18 before my hands left the pot area, especially while I was still holding my last few chips in my hands, but didn't release them yet as I was still making piles like I normally do. Bad habit though.

[PokerGoblin]

Two things.

Your post contains a lot of what seems to be unnecessary information. Clean it up to where the pertinent info is clear and you will probably get more responses.

For example, instead of the whole first paragraph, which has nothing to do with the problem, just say something like:

"Regular home game in my dorm room." The rest of the details given are irrevelant.

Try to include the stakes and # of players.

Also, break your story into smaller paragraghs. It is easier to read.

It sounds like you are acting like a douche by the way you nonchalantly throw your chips around and let them figure out how much you intended to bet.

Instead, announce your bet verbally without any physical action past the 'bet line', then put the appropriate number of chips out.

From what I decipher from your description you put a bunch of chips out past the bet line, then reached for more. That is a string bet. You said "I'll make it..." and then put a bunch of chips out there. It wasn't until you realized how big the pot was that you knew you needed to bet more.

Stop using that phrase. Just act deliberate and say 'raise'.

Had you said "$18" while you're still stacking chips on the felt, you are committed to betting $18 no matter how many chips you put out there. Once you just stacked a few chips out there, you were committed to that.

Later

[Precept2]

I'd probably have a problem with this if I were at the table. We have a guy who grabs an entire stack and drops the bottom couple of chips. I think he's guaging his opponent's response while dropping chips, maybe deciding to drop more than he originally planned. I think it's a form of angling.

As you noted, the pros play with their chips "in front of them" before shoving them into the betting zone, but not the pot itself. They play with them, while they think and decide what they want to do. Then they put them in.

Think before you act/bet. It's a situation that could have been avoided.

[cmillard]

Very annoying, I guess every home game has the same type of player.....holds a large stack in his hand, drops one chip at a time counting out his "raise".......while hoping that it will eventually be enough to make everyone fold!
There is nothing "picky" about setting rules, even if it is a friendly home game......if you plan on raising the pot, just say raise, decide on the amount and put it in the pot...simple and fast.

[Snarf]

[ QUOTE ]
Very annoying, I guess every home game has the same type of player.....holds a large stack in his hand, drops one chip at a time counting out his "raise".......while hoping that it will eventually be enough to make everyone fold!

[/ QUOTE ]

Would it be considered 'angling' if I stated 'raise' and then proceeded to do exactly what this guy described?

Would your answer change if I were the best player in my home game?

[jtr]

The other day I went to a midget convention. I was the tallest guy in the room.

[Snarf]

[ QUOTE ]
The other day I went to a midget convention. I was the tallest guy in the room.

[/ QUOTE ]

Were you also the best player in the room? 'cuz if so...You mighta had something going there....

[smoore]

you win. it's not a string bet because you hadn't completed your action.

[ QUOTE ]
you win. it's not a string bet because you hadn't completed your action.

[/ QUOTE ]