What is a "string bet?" We all know the rule of a string bet, but does everyone understand the point of the rule?
The point of the rule is to not allow a player to take a "shot" at the pot. Basically, you cant put a few chips in, and then wait to get a reaction, and then act on from there. Pretty simple i think.
As with all rules, i think some people get carried away on this rule. It's only a technicality, not a life or death law!
The reason I'm bringing it up is, i saw an issue arise at the table tonight, regarding a string bet. It was a $2-$5 NL table with 9 regulars, and a guy i haven't seen before. Now i wasn't actually dealing the game, but i saw the entire thing. Here's what happened.
A few players had limped into the pot, and the action came to Sam. Sam is an everyday player, he talks a lot, and everyone gets along well with him. Sam takes a small stack of $5 cheques and goes into the pot. He drops one $5 chip, hesitates for a second, and then puts out $20 more. His hand never left the pot. The dealer, called it a string bet, because he did not put all the chips in at "one time." And of course, there was a small argument. Sam said it wasn't a string bet, a few players said it was, yada yada yada. One player saw me watching, and tried to ask my opinion. I just threw my hands up, and said, "I'm not dealing, and I'm not a floor man, call them."
And i walked away. So i never did hear the end result. And to tell you the truth, i really don't care. But i want to voice my opinion now.
I think when there is call like this one, a judgement call that is, the player should be given the benefit of the doubt, unless there is substantial reasoning otherwise. Just like our justice system, "Innocent, until proven guilty."
And in this circumstance, i think Sam should have been acquitted of all charges. He is an upstanding and honest poker player. Like i said before, the rule is to stop players from taking shots at the pot. And he was obviously not doing that.
So just remember everyone, poker is a gentleman's game. Don't read too much into the rule book, and just play the game. Not everyone is out to get you.
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- brkawy_7
- Im 26 years old, and live in the St Louis area. i play a lot of poker, and always trying to learn more about the game.
1 comment:
I mostly agree. That particular rule is enforced very strictly at the casino in question. Perhaps too strictly as most of the time everyone knows that no advantage was obtained by the offender.
However, it's important to keep the "rule of law" in full effect. There are some dealers who don't care about the $650 pot in front of them and can't be trusted to interpret rules. So "zero tolerance" may be the only choice.
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