Live $100 No Limit Game

I went to a casino last night and sat down to play in the $100.00 no limit game with 9 players. I was the BB and when it went around the table there was only 1 caller. To make a long story short, it came down to the river and I thought the guy hit so I said "I check and call to the better." I did not have chips in hand and did not cross the line indicating a bet. This guy went ballistic. His face turned red and he was screaming at me that I had violated a cardinal poker rule. The other players are trying to talk to him and telling him that no, I checked and said I would call if he bet. By this point, the entire casino is looking at us and all action has stopped at the surrounding tables. The floor manager comes over and talks to the dealer and tells the guy to leave. He signals for a couple of security men and this guy is standing up and gathering all his chips and still yelling that I was cheating and he is going to call the DOJ to report the casino and me as a player. My question, what does the DOJ have to do with gameplay? Also, is there some unwritten law that says I should never say check and call to the one who bets? I am still shaken up over this whole thing and know it will be awhile before I play live again. Thankfully I was up over $700.00 when this happened so I did leave after the guy was gone. Hopefully someone can help me understand this cheating/DOJ thing.

Your action (the call) may be declared binding if the other player bets. Other than that, the guy was just tilting (because you caught him bluffing?) and was probably a previous problem (hence the immediate call for security by the floor).

I hope you won the pot...

Thank you for replying Alien. Yes, I did win the pot since I had quad As and I intended on calling whatever he bet. I would have honored even if I was in a losing hand since I stated it. However, I still would like to understand what in the world DOJ has to do with live games. I offered the guy my name before he was escorted out as I really felt I didn't do anything wrong and the other guys at the table backed me up. I am still new to playing poker but I have never read any rules on how I checked the hand. If I check and state I will call whatever he bets, how is what I said wrong? It was almost like he believed I bet and I was reneging on my bet which was not the case. Like I said, I am still upset by the whole incident. It is one of those times when I wish I had the "nuts".

Well that does seem like a very scary situation...that guy had no right to just burst out like that because you pretty much gave him valuable information..but as a side note....you weren't going to raise quad aces on the river!!?!?!!? (lol I couldn't help commenting on that )

Of course not! I had been watching him play for a good hour and he bet with stupid hands. Then I am dealt AA and I check and he bets. I call. The flop comes A 9 4 and he bets. I check and he bets and I call. I know I have him but I am worried that if I bet he will fold. The turn comes (another A) and again I check and he bets. Again I call. The whole time he is trash talking about taking how easy it is to play me. He tells me he has the nuts and I should fold but hey, if I want to give my money to him he will take it, no problem. I know there is nothing to beat me with the cards on the table. It was a monster hand and the last one I played due to the circumstances. Any other player at the table and I would have played it differently but with this guy I wanted to take as much of his chips as possible. He was a jerk the entire time. And I did take a healthy portion of his chips so I do feel like I did some good at that table. I am still looking for the answer to the DOJ getting involved in gaming issues. Anyone have an answer?

Based on what you have said about the hand, what did you possible think he "hit"? You had the nuts. Nothing on the table could have beaten you. I'm confused. And seriously, why not make a bet to him, something you think he would call to maximize your chip winnings?

becuse the other guy was bluffin and if he betted or reraised him he would probaly have folder he was just gettin some good profit out of it

I was playing at the TAJ in a hand...dont remember all the action..but..on the river..i bet out a small amount. some guys says ALL IN.. I SAY..I can't beat ya..he laughs...then shows me a STRONG HAND and throws it in the muck..I say I CALL..the dealer gives me the pot..the man flips out..but then again he didnt have a hand (AFTER) I made my action. I WON. "NEVER MUCK UNTIL THE HAND IS OVER"

I played at Caesars in Vegas in a 120$ game and on the table there was one guy who did not speak English well - At some point he said
"I will check you all in" - This caused a lot of problems and they called the floor manager and so on - The decision was that it was a Check.
The guy then show a Full House... He wanted to go all in but said it wrong.
I think one must try to say the right exact needed phrases in poker to avoid these troublesome cases.
By the way about your DOJ question - I find it really funny, I do not think you did something so wrong...

Yeah don't sweat that guy, he had no right to blow his fuse like that. You were totally in the right ... welcome to casino poker. Hell, read my Vegas post, I saw a dude EAT a card when his AQ for TPTK got busted for his $200 stack. It happens, but definitely be careful when walking out to your car, you never know.

Aside from that guy being a total idiot, you should have just kept quiet and took him for his roll.

It sure sounds like he had some history that made the casino act in the manner that they did. I would have loved to be sitting at the table!