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String Bet - An illegal betting maneuver.
A huge part of playing poker is collecting and deciphering tidbits of information that your opponents give up when they act on their
hands. This information is used collectively to help you figure out where you stand in the hand. The better you are at collecting and
processing information, the more accurate the picture you will have, and this translates into more effective decision making when it
is your turn to act.
A tremendous amount of valuable information gets transferred from player to player during the betting process. Naturally, players want
to do everything within their power to get as much information as possible from their opponents, thereby gaining an advantage. This is
legitimate, but there are also many angles players
try to run, either to get additional information or to trick their opponents out of acting in their own best interest. Some of these
moves are sneaky and unethical. Because of this, casinos have house rules governing the betting process, to ensure that everything
that occurs stays within the confines of ethical play. These rules cover such areas as string bets, betting out of turn, bet and
courtesy lines, verbal declarations and the like.
A string bet, or string raise, is a wager that is made in a fragmented motion or in multiple motions. Most poker rooms have a
house rule against string bets and string raises,
although it is typically only enforceable by the other players. This means that only another player may object to a string bet, and
not the dealer. The rule against string bets and raises states that a player must either declare the amount of his bet, or make the
bet in one continuous motion, without stopping or hesitating during the betting process. This prevents the bettor from gauging the
reaction of his opponent during the betting process and adjusting his bet either upwards or downwards depending upon his opponent’s reaction.
To further clarify things, many casinos have either a bet line or a courtesy line on their poker tables. This is a line that runs in a
circular fashion from the left of the dealer box, around the table, to the right of the dealer box. Players are expected to place
their bets over the line when they wager. This helps to clarify when forward moving chips become a wager. A courtesy line and a bet
line are variations of the same rule. If the line on the table is a courtesy line, players are asked to place their wagers over the
line as a courtesy to the dealers, but it is their forward motion with chips in their hand which defines the bet. Players need not
cross the line in order to have their action be considered a wager. Alternatively, if the line on the table is a bet line, the
bettor’s action is only considered a wager when it crosses the line. With a bet line, forward motion is meaningless so long as no
chips have crossed the line.
The rule against string bets and raises is designed to prevent angle shooting and unethical betting behavior. But it can also be used
as a technicality to get out of betting when your opponent accidentally makes a bet that does not conform with the letter of the law.
Many new players are either not aware of the string bet rule, or are not diligent about complying with it each and every time that
they bet. Frequently, they will realize halfway through the betting process that they do not have enough chips in their hand to
complete their bet or raise, and return to their stack without declaring the amount of their wager. Some of the other players will not
hesitate to call a string raise on nonconforming bets, even when it is clear that the intent was not to shoot an angle. As the bettor,
it is your responsibility to ensure that all of your bets and raises comply with the rules, and if they do not, there is a high
probability that your bet or raise will be invalidated. Likewise, you are entitled to call a string bet or raise on nonconforming
wagers made by your opponents. Whether you choose to or not is up to you. Remember, a string bet or raise cannot be called by the
dealer, it can only be enforced by the other players. Some players will let a string wager slide, especially if it is from an
inexperienced player whose intent was clear. This is just a matter of personal preference. A player who calls too many string bets and
raises, especially borderline ones, can be viewed as nit, which is not necessarily a desirable table image.
Usage: Called A String Raise, It Was A String Bet
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