Keeping count of the pot (and opponents' chips) in live games.

Does anyone else have trouble keeping count of the value of the pot in live games? I'm a decent player, but I get raped in home games; probably because I can't keep track of the pot value. We play poker where every chip is worth the same, regardless of the colour. Any help? Maybe we're supposed to stack the pot in a certain way?

I play limit so it's easy... I just count the bets and not the dollars in the pot. It's very easy that way. I don't play NL live, though I have been considering it lately just to broaden my game more. Keeping track of the pot was one concern of mine. I suppose you would just have to concentrate more on who is betting what amount and adding it up as the bets go into the pot.

Counting the pot is really just practice and paying attention. Keep working at it. As far as chip stacks, that's a little tougher because people stack different ways and most home games do not enforce casino rules for chip stacks and placement (e.g. large denomiation chips can't be hidden or make it seem like your stack is shorter than it is, etc). But if the remaining chip count really matters in some instance, ask. Last I checked, you're entitled to know.

JD, has it right. If you really need to know ask the dealer.

Yup...if it matters then ask. You seen the pro's do it almost every important hand(sometimes twice) so do be embarrassed by it.

just keep track of the pot size on every street. i see many players who don't and when they get to the river they're like "so preflop was $10 each, and there was 5 of us, then $15 on the flop and 3 stayed in, then blah blah blah...."
just remember how much there is at each street and add em up.

wtf casino do you play in?


THE DEALER CAN NOT count the pot!!!!!

you can spread the pot and estimate but the dealer can not count the pot for you in a live game. I have been in many live games where a player has asked and dealer has said I cant count it.


if you see it on TV then you are seeing the bet being counted not that pot!

Really ? Anytime ive played poker in a casino the dealer had no problems counting the pot. Then again thats Irish casinos for ya

I have only played live in Atlantic City and I know they can not count the pot there.

in los angeles the deal cannot count the pot. the dealer cant even tell you what the bet was on the last street, only the current bet.

Tournament Directors Association Announces New Poker Rules | Poker News



34 Pot Size- Players are entitled to be informed of the pot size in pot-limit games only. Dealers will not count the pot in limit and no-limit games.


obvious reason why they can tell you in pot limit games. These are tourney rules but Im sure it also aplies to live cash games also.

I've seen mixed results with people asking for the pot to be counted in live cash games (and we usually give a ton of crap to anyone that asks for it in a home game). Plus, as you pointed out, above is a tourney rule (which, btw, only took affect on March 15, 2007).

As far as player stacks go though, a count is always there for the asking (and while typically be done by the player, may be done by the dealer as well). I suppose if you asked for a player's stack count too often something might be said about you delaying the game.

Dealer usually will not count the pot at our home game, unless someone has misplaced a bet (bet out of turn, raised less than the bb, put an incorrect number of chips in) and everybody is mixed up. Plus, counting the size of the pot ain't that hard with practice, unless every hand goes 4-5 handed. Just focus on the first bet on the flop and multiply by the number of callers (or raisers and the number of chips they raised) then add up to the preflop potsize (something anyone can easily count). Do this every street and you should never make any mistake. Also, if you never prepare a bet or look at your cards before it's your turn to act, you insure that full attention is given to the current bets/raises of the street, so another point in favor of wiating.

You can always ask a player how much he has in front of him. Be wary to do it when it is your turn to bet.

I actually asked the pot size at Harrah's over the weekend and the dealer told me to pay attention, lol. I was like yeah, good point. He didn't count it for me.

What he may be talking about is asking your opponent what their chip stack is regarding how much they have left. That's actually a question that I have. I know you can ask them, but are they (or you when asked) required to tell?

Yes. Your chip stack (regardless of ring or tourney) is not a secret. In fact, there is also a chip ettiquette for stacking chips so that higher denomination chips are visible to others so it can't seem like you're playing a shorter stack for strategy purposes.

If I'm at a loss to what the pot is live I usually just sit there and count it myself. Not literally grabbing the chips, but just by looking at it and counting.

On a side note my first live ring game I took down first hand I played with a decent sized pot and being in the home game live mode I instantly grabbed for the chips as the other player mucked his hand. People freaked and said I couldn't do that because the dealer had to figure out what she was taking from the pot. I was like ok guys relax relax, just used to playing at home. They thought I was pretty bad after that and just some punk kid. I gladly took their $.