Is "I have to call" a call?

Live $1/$2 game... I was talking through a hand at the river after an opponent had taken a strange line. Obv, in hindsight, I shouldn't have done this, but I was muttering to myself, "I know I'm beat, but I have a full house, and it's just $30 into $100... how can I fold here?? I have to call this..."

...and then the other guy, upon hearing me say "I have to call this" flips over his cards, shows me a bigger full house (as expected), and I say, "I fold."

The floor ruled that I had called.

It was just $30, but I want to learn from it: Was my statement a call?

Try to avoid saying the word "call".

I agree with the ruling, but I'm thinking the guy might have angled you. So, like I said, just avoid saying the word "call" unless you intend on calling.

Yes. In every single live poker room that I've played in, there are rules posted. And in every single room, on that list somewhere was a rule that stated: " Verbal is binding " or something of that nature. Because you said, " I have to call this" it can reasonably be assumed that you were stating intentions to call. As Dick suggested, try to avoid saying call until you've decided to call. In your case, there aren't many times where the floor will give you leeway. If you said, " I think I have to call" that is different from " I have to call". Just always remember: Verbal is binding. I once saw a guy taunting another player during a hand. He dared him to raise him on the river. He threw out a bet and said, " If you raise me, I'll call you". Well the other guy had filled up on the river to beat this guy's ace high flush so of course he raised all in. Now realizing with a pair on the board, that he might be beat he hesitated for a minute. The guy with the boat, who was savvy to the "Verbal is binding" rule, called him out on his statement and eventually after the floor came over and got verification from the table what the guy had said, he had to pay the man off. Just always remember: Verbal is binding.

I agree with the floor in Stoica's situation as it was binding. Tough lesson I learned the hard way myself when I started.

I find CounterfeitedNutz example pretty odd though. I would have to look at the rulebook but would think a statement like that would be considered out of turn. I have seen others do that before and never got forced to follow through. But then I have never seen the floor called on that either.

It happened exactly the same with me.
Luck the guy was shortstacked, because it was a shove and I said the same exactly words.
I don't say anything more hahaha

Yes, in live games, avoid to talk about the game actions or to think loud .

While play is still alive, say nothing, do nothing, unless you are going to call or raise. If you even touch your chips and move them slightly toward the pot, it could be considered a call. BUT if you got a good hand and touch your chips without moving them you may get a good read on the other player.

CANT TALK LIKE THAT IN LIVE GAMES

Yes it's a call.

Adding the word "might" would have been enough to deny it though.

"I might have to call this" suggests that you are still in doubt...

Cut and dry call.

In the casinos they will hold you to it, in home games we let a lot of stuff slide but casinos are very strict with verbiage.

Horrible position to be in. I hate when I think out loud. To me, saying it without calling the bet with the chip call doesn't mean it was called. To me, seems like the player you called reacted to your verbal statement.
Maybe a wrong choice of words were used. Not sure I should call this.
Either way, I hate it for you. Guess a lesson was learned about table talk.

Yeah for me also this is definitely a legitimate call, one of the best reasons why I don't say anything hand related in live games