Guest QandA

Something recent from the mailbag:

"a player is in the big blind of $200.00. when it is his turn he says raise. he then
puts $200.00 by the big blind and reaches for $400.00 more and says $600.00 raise. is this a string raise?
-- charles d."

MrBlonde

Yes. You have to either A) put the entire amount of your raise out in front of you at one time, or B) announce the amount of your raise before you put any chips in front of you. (If you do this, then you can put out your chips $1 at a time if you want to.)
The person in this example did neither; the amount of his raise is $200.

Bobby C

In NL, it is often acceptable to make more than one motion.

For example, a player announces, "Raise" grabs a stack of chips in each hand; puts them out there; goes back for a third stack. This is OK, provided:

--there was no hesitation between moves;
--he could not be expected to move all those chips in one motion.

Even though this is acceptable, I would still recommend announcing your intentions before doing anything that might be misinterpreted.

In the example above, if we're talking about $5 chips, I say no string bet. If he's doodling with $100 chips, though, that's different.

EDIT: I just noticed we're in the "limit" forum. If this is limit, then announcing a raise is sufficient, and you cannot be called for a string bet.

DOAJOKER

Another consideration is the actions of the player behind him. If the next player to act started to call his $200 raise then the $400 is a string raise because the raiser has the advantage of knowing that he is being called.

cuse522

I'd definately call it a string bet... He needed to say the amount before placing the first $200 in, or at least while his hand was still on it..

As described, he announced a raise, pushed out enough to make a raise, then went back for more. Definately a string bet.

Bobby C

Cuse,

Did you read my post?

cuse522

Bobby, at least at Turning Stone, I've seen what you described ruled a string bet...

Bobby C

Yeah, a lot of places have "limit" rules in their NL games, because they don't know any better.

This may be hard to believe, but in 1999, NOBODY was spreading NL. Even most tournaments were limit.

In order to know the differences you've got be either:

--an old-timer;
--someone who actively seeks out and studies the rules.

Most people in charge of poker rooms across the country are neither.

NL is supposed to be dealt 9-handed. How often do you see this? Just about never, that's how often.

cuse522

I actively seek out the rules and didn't realize that, though you see it occasionally on TV (the type of action you described)..

In limit though, I can't see as how it'd ever be an issue.. I mean once you announce raise, your amount is a given.. Unless we're talking spread limit?

Why 9-handed? I know one or two online sites are 9 handed, and some high profile tournaments (Not much anymore as they want to fill as many seats as possible)..

As far as advice to those looking to avoid getting called on a string raise.. Just always play it safe and announce your raise and the amount.. Then there can't be confusion.