Betting Etiquette

I have a question about betting and when a bet is final.

Last night my wife and I were playing holdem with another couple. An opponent bet and I said, "OK, I'll play." I began counting my chips and then I changed my mind. I said, "no, I don't think I'll play." I did not push my chips in.

Our friends said that I was committed and that I must play the hand.

I've tried to find the rules on this, but had no luck.

I'd be interested in what you folks think.

Hai, and welcome to the forum.

Verbal declarations are binding. There's an argument that you didn't specifically say "Call" or "Raise", but in my opinion you made your intentions clear and thus have to either call or raise here. There's just too much scope for angle-shooting in allowing someone to say "Hey I'm gonna play" and then allowing them to fold (for example, saying "I'm gonna play" just to gauge your opponents reaction, then folding/calling/raising based on this).

As it's a home game, as long as you have some sort of rule regarding this set for the future you should be fine (alternatively, just keep quiet! )

Pretty much what he said ^^^^

'OK, I'll play' is decisive enough to be binding


Whereas the following arent :-

'Let's see, hmmm, I might call this one'

'Arrrghh, I think I've got you beat'

'That looks a weak bet, I think I'm going to call'

'It's pretty cheap to call isnt it. I can afford it'

'you seriously think I am going to fold to that'

'you hit that flush I know it. Man thats annoying. should i call though? just in case... i dont know, what do you think? should i call? (punk)'

etc

interesting question and welcome to cc. i would really have to hear the whole cinversation to make a opinon. but from what i gather i think welly and dorkus are correct

Robert`s Rules (the generally accepted rules of poker) say:

"A verbal statement denotes your action and is binding. If in turn you verbally declare a fold, check, bet, call or raise, you are forced to take that action."

In this instance, you stated your intention to call (and even began counting the chips). Having done that, you are not allowed to change your mind. Sorry, your friends were right.

i saw the smae program. i wonder if it was intentional. hmmmmmmmm. didn't appear so but one never really knows.

I would think you should be forced to call... AND unable to raise. You clearly declared you were playing, but allowing you to raise would be wrong as well.

I also hate when someone holds a stack of chips in their hand, moves their hand into the middle, watches the person that bet and then decides to only drop enough chips to call after they have a read on that person's face and decide not to raise.

Doc

My only live play is through home games and we have rules that we go by stating that if there is any kind of declaration to play whatsoever then that person must at least call the hand.

I have never played in a casino though. What are the rules there as far as this, string bets, etc.?

The statement of I will play creates verbal commitment which in Poker is binding. Subsequently you are at a minimum requiered to call and may at your discression raise. Good Luck.

I agree with all that say the declaration is binding and I do enforce it in our home games.

However the statement is not clear enough to make a determination as to intent beyond putting chips into the pot. All that statement does is indicate that the player is in fact going to contribute to the pot. I've done this myself (though granted I wasn't out of turn), in which I've made a verbal statement meaning that I was at least going to contribute and in some cases raised. The only formal statements that are binding to specific definitions are "Call", "Check", "Fold", "Raise", and "Reraise". They all mean something specific to poker that is common knowledge and cannot be mis-interpreted. Anything else is only binding to the general action (as in will or won't be contributing chips to the pot).

I was playing in a live game this weekend (limit) and a player announced a raise, then bet only the limit amount. The dealer (and the rest of the table) agreed that the verbal commitment was binding, and the player had to put in enough chips to complete the raise.

Everywhere I've played, verbal commitments have always been the rule. So I agree with everyone else--once you verbally said you were in the hand, you were required to at least call.

Im really glad I read this forum. Ive only been playing for 6 months or so. BUt when I play live games with my buddies, there is always one guy who is saying ALLIN and Raise and changes his mind after he sees our reaction. I always thought this was stupid and everyone else always let it go. Ill be sure to call him out on it this weekend.