Keeping Track Of The Pot

[Seraph 0]

Hi,I've been playing a lot of games around, and have applied odds calculations to my benefit. Online, the software keeps track of the money in the pot, making my job doing calculations easier, but in live games I just can't seem to find a way to keep track of the pot as well ( I end up trying to estimate the number of chips in there on the spot, which kind of gives away what I'm doing ). Do you guys have any suggestions on how to keep track of the money in the pot during live games ?

[Metternich 0]

I usually just try and eyeball it and guesstimate, but I don't play live enough to give you good advice. When you say you give yourself away, how do you mean? If you mutter numbers or something thats not a problem, just be sure to always do it. If you always do something whether you have the nuts or a gutshot it ceases to be a tell.

[David_Nicoson 1]

I try to keep track of the number of players and the size of the bet for each round. It's trickier if people call then fold to a raise. But generally I want to multiply the number of people times the bet rather than keep a running total.

[DCJ001 0]

You're not the only one:http://www.pocketfives.com/D97C4F3F-04EB-4...AD45A3424A.aspx

[Royal_Tour 0]

No matter where in the world i play, when its a live game in a casino, the dealer always says aloud "X players" so whatever X is, lets say 5. and you should be able to remember how much you put in to see a flop. do that before you look at the flop if it takes you a few seconds.

[TheCinciKid 0]

It's somewhat dependent on whether this is limit or no-limit you're talking about. In limit it's pretty easy, just keep track of the number of bets in the pot. You do this by keeping track of how many players are in. For instance, if there's a raise and 4 callers, there are 10 small bets in the pot before the flop, if there is a bet and 3 callers on the flop there are now 14 small bets, which you convert to 7 big bets for the turn. In no-limit it's more difficult, but if you try to pay attention to and keep track of the amounts that have been bet, you can usually do the mental arithmetic. Also, if you're at a casino you can usually ask the dealer how much is out there and he will either know, or be able to count the pot for you.

[Actuary 3]

I add

[BigLebowski 0]

I always try to keep it in a piece of tupperware on my end table.

[Kaveros 0]

Yes I too have trouble with this being a player who first started playing online.I just give the pot a quick "eyeball" as said above and just do quick math in my head.If you are really slow however you can just take your time. Just sit there pretending you are pondering your move and do the math in your head. That is what I did to start. There is no "15 seconds left" and beeping in live poker.