Letting the Timer Run (Stalling)

R

Roberson acosta

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Mar 25, 2017
Total posts
1
Chips
0
Idiots who let the timer run show be banned from all rooms! Wasting other people's time is rather jerkish! Grow up people and PLAY THE GAME!
 
K

kidrock1211

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 14, 2016
Total posts
693
Awards
1
Chips
3
I agree unless your in for all your chips and you need time to think then check bet or fold.. Lets keep it moving for those who want to play!!
 
J

John Bor

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 6, 2017
Total posts
383
Chips
0
I also think that the time limits are important
so every things is all right!!!
 
akmost

akmost

Rising Star
Loyaler
Joined
Feb 2, 2017
Total posts
1,979
Awards
2
GR
Chips
145
If you imply that they do it in purpose I am with you. It's totally ridiculous , but on the other side if you are facing a difficult decision don't expect quick responses. The most annoying is when they time bank near the bubble burst but they are deep stacked!!! OMG that drives me crazy.
 
Jester36rus

Jester36rus

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 6, 2014
Total posts
213
Chips
0
There may be various reasons for extra time using. Multitabling for example. If u don't want to wait, play hypers)) or zoom. But normal poker is in need with time for spare sometimes.
 
skavenger

skavenger

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 29, 2015
Total posts
371
Chips
0
I do not know these programs, what do they do anyway?
 
U

UberPokerFan

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2012
Total posts
127
Awards
1
Chips
0
I hate it too. There was one site I played at years ago that allowed you to click a demerit setting on a user and when the user got enough demerits, they were not allowed to play for some period of time. You didn't see stalling on that site.

I don't think its as bad as it used to be. About the only time I see stalling now is short stacks when a tourny is getting close to the $.

Stalling seems counterintuitive to me. It seems like all you are doing is ensuring you pay the highest blinds you can.
 
SMD Jabroni

SMD Jabroni

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 1, 2015
Total posts
218
Chips
0
it is not against the rules.
people should be allowed to do whatever they want in that regard.

good luck at the tables!
 
U

UberPokerFan

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2012
Total posts
127
Awards
1
Chips
0
I believe it is against the rules in some live tournaments, including wsop. I don't know why online is any different. It hurts the game and some sites discourage it. I think it is BOL that shortens your "shot clock" if you let it run out too many times.
 
U

underdog140

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Total posts
1,140
Chips
0
Some online sites do frown upon it as well. If a player gets too many complaints and is doing it constantly they likely at least get a warning from the site to stop doing it.
 
elitenuts

elitenuts

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 5, 2015
Total posts
337
Chips
0
Sometimes when I have several tables open I can let them time run occasionally but honestly were talking about 10 or so seconds -

If I see someone at the table freaking out and making a big deal out of it I will purposely let it run - always an easy way to tilt them...
 
D

don1980

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2012
Total posts
361
Chips
0
Letting the time run is a good to get your thoughts together.
 
DudePoker

DudePoker

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Total posts
36
Chips
0
For those of you complaining about opponents tanking on the bubble, your opponents aren't there to make your stay at the table enjoyable.

That being said, ideally, everyone (at your table) would be tanking on the bubble. A few circumstances aside, tanking gives everyone at the table more of an edge to cash the tourney.
 
sunirico

sunirico

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 2, 2014
Total posts
966
Awards
12
Chips
0
Patience! Isn't that the zen we try to achieve in poker?

If stalling upsets you, makes you frustrated, angry or gets you to tilt, then I SHOULD exploit that edge to my advantage. You WILL make a mistake.

That said I do think there are benefits to stalling, depending on your stack size. When we come to the bubble you either have a large stack, which you should use aggressively to exploit the min cash stacks. With a small stack you are better of seeing as few hands as possible, giving players on the other tables a chance to make mistakes and bust out before you. At least getting to ITM, especially if you came in via a sat, will greatly improve your bottom line.

My advice is to just accept the fact that we all have the same amount of time. That includes time per hand, disconnection time and a timebank. If they can help you improve your standings then you SHOULD use them. At least use your timebank at some point before you're done. It is not unfair since we all get the same time.

It could be argued that we do not have enough time, if you have ever played on a bad connection experiencing unwanted time-outs or frequent disconnections you know what I am talking about. In these situations, in my experience, it is best to just go all-in pre-flop and take your chances which trumps getting a forced sit-out on the turn to loose the hand. Then of course haters would complain that you play bingo and start a similar thread to whine about that. Luckily we don't play poker to keep others on our table happy, we take advantage of ALL our opportunities and we play to win.

Besides what are you complaining about 10 secs extra per hand, there is no shuffling, waiting for players to post antes, dealing each hand, burning cards or counting chips. You will still play way more hands per hour online than you could ever do playing live, even one tabling. So chillax, use the extra time to find reads on your opponents or calculate your odds. Most importantly, avoid getting emotional and don't give away any sign that it is upsetting you by complaining in chat, it's NOT to your advantage.
 
Last edited:
XXPXXP

XXPXXP

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 7, 2012
Total posts
5,511
Awards
2
Chips
0
IF u are going to ban this.
I believe almost all MTT play are on this list once or more.

don't you ever clocking during the bubble???

I believe you had or you will some day.

LOL

PS: if poker room gives this time bank equal to every player, then it is their right to use it or not, regardless he is tanking or not. players'r right.
 
orchidra

orchidra

Allan with two Owls
Loyaler
Joined
Nov 4, 2008
Total posts
4,371
Awards
32
NZ
Chips
1,428
Patience! Isn't that the zen we try to achieve in poker?

If stalling upsets you, makes you frustrated, angry or gets you to tilt, then I SHOULD exploit that edge to my advantage. You WILL make a mistake.

That said I do think there are benefits to stalling, depending on your stack size. When we come to the bubble you either have a large stack, which you should use aggressively to exploit the min cash stacks. With a small stack you are better of seeing as few hands as possible, giving players on the other tables a chance to make mistakes and bust out before you. At least getting to ITM, especially if you came in via a sat, will greatly improve your bottom line.

My advice is to just accept the fact that we all have the same amount of time. That includes time per hand, disconnection time and a timebank. If they can help you improve your standings then you SHOULD use them. At least use your timebank at some point before you're done. It is not unfair since we all get the same time.

It could be argued that we do not have enough time, if you have ever played on a bad connection experiencing unwanted time-outs or frequent disconnections you know what I am talking about. In these situations, in my experience, it is best to just go all-in pre-flop and take your chances which trumps getting a forced sit-out on the turn to loose the hand. Then of course haters would complain that you play bingo and start a similar thread to whine about that. Luckily we don't play poker to keep others on our table happy, we take advantage of ALL our opportunities and we play to win.

Besides what are you complaining about 10 secs extra per hand, there is no shuffling, waiting for players to post antes, dealing each hand, burning cards or counting chips. You will still play way more hands per hour online than you could ever do playing live, even one tabling. So chillax, use the extra time to find reads on your opponents or calculate your odds. Most importantly, avoid getting emotional and don't give away any sign that it is upsetting you by complaining in chat, it's NOT to your advantage.

Great post. I can not add anything other than, I also do not have a problem with players using up their time bank. Just part of the game.
 
D

Dlbcanuck

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 15, 2017
Total posts
74
Chips
0
Time wasting

When people do it in tournaments close to the bubble I can understand. The problem is other tables could be moving along and your losing chances at increasing your stack by the lack of hands.
 
max entropy

max entropy

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 23, 2017
Total posts
972
Awards
1
Chips
115
Time is the master,time can be a disaster!
Arm with patience,chill out and coexist.
Any fast player can become slow from time to time.
 
R

RyanBeau

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Mar 30, 2017
Total posts
5
Chips
0
Sometimes when I have a strong hand I let the timer run a bit to sort of imply to my opponent that I am thinking hard about it (even though I know I have the better hand) so that they are more likely to call.
 
sunirico

sunirico

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 2, 2014
Total posts
966
Awards
12
Chips
0
Sometimes when I have a strong hand I let the timer run a bit to sort of imply to my opponent that I am thinking hard about it (even though I know I have the better hand) so that they are more likely to call.

This strategy gets so over used though, how often do you see someone with AA tank all their time before shuving pre-flop? Thinking about a raise usually means you have something, because you are thinking what you can get them to call. Chances are your opponents were going to call you anyway.

Instead if you snap raise, your opponents might think you are bluffing since you are not taking any time to think. If you have nothing there's not much to think about, only that you hope your opponent folds.

There are some circles who believe you should make every play using the exact same time, in so doing you avoid giving away any timing tells. However I find it hard to believe that checking the fold box before your turn would harm your game.
 
sunirico

sunirico

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 2, 2014
Total posts
966
Awards
12
Chips
0
The problem is other tables could be moving along and your losing chances at increasing your stack by the lack of hands.

I am not sure this is true.

Other tables moving along means there are players busting out on those tables, this is to your advantage.

All you gain at faster tables are seeing more hands at the same blind level. You are not guaranteed to get a hand to stack up with and it could also be argued that if, when you do get that hand, at a higher blind level you stand to win more.

Tournament poker is not a race, it is more like a journey of survival. So what if others stack up faster than you, as long as you have a chip and a chair you can still make it to the final table.
 
B

B1BOMBER

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Mar 1, 2016
Total posts
1,139
Awards
2
Chips
67
I feel people have the right to use the time that allotted. Just as they can go all-in every hand if they wish to. It is not as if they can let 5 minutes run like happens in the WSOP. I have seen a lot of players that should slow their game down just a bit to think about what they are doing.:D:D
 
U

UberPokerFan

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2012
Total posts
127
Awards
1
Chips
0
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dlbcanuck
The problem is other tables could be moving along and your losing chances at increasing your stack by the lack of hands.

I am not sure this is true.

Other tables moving along means there are players busting out on those tables, this is to your advantage.

All you gain at faster tables are seeing more hands at the same blind level. You are not guaranteed to get a hand to stack up with and it could also be argued that if, when you do get that hand, at a higher blind level you stand to win more.

Tournament poker is not a race, it is more like a journey of survival. So what if others stack up faster than you, as long as you have a chip and a chair you can still make it to the final table.

It is true--I've experienced it. I was in an online tournament and one player never folded until after his clock expired. This was EVERY hand. After an hour of this, our table's average chip stack was the lowest in the tourney. Even with other players busting out my rank in the tourney was dropping because other players were playing more hands, having more opportunities to win chips.

Your point about winning more because of the higher blinds doesn't ring true. If it was true, then you should not play at all at lower levels; wait until the blinds go up so you could make more! That doesn't make sense. Think about being short stacked as the blinds get higher; you can double up but because you had a small stack to begin with, doubling up doesn't get you out of trouble because the blinds are so high in relation to your stack. In addition, blinds continue to increase, putting more pressure on your stack. So higher blinds do not increase your chances of winning and that's the problem with getting stuck at a table that is getting stalled. The blinds are outpacing your opportunities to add chips.

I think you are minimizing the time element. Time is your enemy in a tournament. You can't afford to sit there watching other players chip up while you are stuck at a snail table.
 
sunirico

sunirico

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 2, 2014
Total posts
966
Awards
12
Chips
0
Your point about winning more because of the higher blinds doesn't ring true. If it was true, then you should not play at all at lower levels; wait until the blinds go up so you could make more! That doesn't make sense.

Yes that doesn't make sense and is not what I said.

What I said was: it could be argued that if, when you do get that (playable) hand, at a higher blind level you stand to win more.

There was nothing said about waiting for a higher blind level to play a hand.
 
C

colbear

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 7, 2006
Total posts
711
Chips
0
Although I tend to act fairly quickly most times . I sometimes am reading notes o figuring odds out and with the compact times on most sites (they don't actually give you that much time to act on most sites) I sometimes find myself close to timing out . If I find this bothers someone I find myself doing it quite a bit more often =)
 
Top