Rules Question.

[Cknman11 0]

Is it correct that a player can not ask how much is in the pot while the hand is in progress? That it's the players responsability to keep up with what's in the pot?If this is true, is it also the case in pot limit games unless the player is betting the pot and needs to know what to match?

[Suited_Up 2]

No, that's ridiculous.You can ask whenever you want.

[psujohn 0]

You can ask (you won't be penalized for asking) but the dealer won't tell you. They will "spread the pot" so you can try to count it that way though you should be able to figure it out easily enough if you're following the action. Like many rules though I suspect there are casino's out there that will tell you the pot size.Not sure about pot limit though I suspect it's the same. Though I also suspect you can say "pot it" and the dealer will tell you how much that is.

[ajs510 122]

No, that's ridiculous.You can ask whenever you want.

Doesn't mean you're going to get an accurate answer, but you can certainly ask.

[Jargonator 0]

Is there some rule like that where the dealer can only spread the pot and not tell you how much is in it?EDIT: already answered

[Cknman11 0]

Is there some rule like that where the dealer can only spread the pot and not tell you how much is in it?EDIT: already answered

THat's what I want to know. On High Stakes Eli Elezra asked the dealer to spread the pot and another player siad something about him not being able to ask for a count and he said he only asked that the pot be spread so he could guestamate it. That's what got me wondering if it was an actual rule.It should be. It unnecessarily slows down action. Players should have a pretty good idea how much is in the pot if they're in the hand.

[nutzbuster 7]

You should only ask to spread out the pot to clean out the stems and seeds.Just sayin'....

[Suited_Up 2]

Doesn't mean you're going to get an accurate answer, but you can certainly ask.

True... point being, I can't see someone saying, hey, it's against the rules to ask what's in there. Kinda stupid.Personally, never has come up while i've played, so never had the issue of either spreading the pot or just asking, but yeah, either one would work.

[ajs510 122]

True... point being, I can't see someone saying, hey, it's against the rules to ask what's in there. Kinda stupid.Personally, never has come up while i've played, so never had the issue of either spreading the pot or just asking, but yeah, either one would work.

Yeah, I've never actually seen a player explicity ask how much is in the pot, but as far as I know it's the players responsibility to keep track. To my knowledge, the dealer isn't even responsible for spreading out the pot, not that it's really all that difficult to figure the pile out if you just take your time and think about it.

[Dogpatch 2]

When I deal, I try to keep the pot in such a way as the players can see all of the denominations of chips in the pot. If someone is taking their time on a decision, I'll even organize it somewhat. I was never aware of a rule saying it was wrong of them to ask, but I make it easy enough for them to see so they don't have to.When I play, I don't keep a running total in my head, but it's very easy to guesstimate. I do like when the dealer keeps the high denom chips towards the top or at least keeps them visible.

[psujohn 0]

I saw it happen many many times while playing 1/2 at MGM. The response was "I can't tell you". Same as if a player asked "Who raised?" the response was "I can't tell you".If you're even half paying attention how hard is it to figure out how much is in the pot. PF raised to 15, 3 callers. Flop bet 40, one caller. There's 140 in the pot. If you can't recount the action in the hand you're too drunk/tired/stupid to be playing.

[Suited_Up 2]

I saw it happen many many times while playing 1/2 at MGM. The response was "I can't tell you". Same as if a player asked "Who raised?" the response was "I can't tell you".If you're even half paying attention how hard is it to figure out how much is in the pot. PF raised to 15, 3 callers. Flop bet 40, one caller. There's 140 in the pot. If you can't recount the action in the hand you're too drunk/tired/stupid to be playing.

That seems a bit ridiculous to me. I assume the player would just say so, and if not another player would, but still, who cares if the dealer tells the person or not?

[ajs510 122]

That seems a bit ridiculous to me. I assume the player would just say so, and if not another player would, but still, who cares if the dealer tells the person or not?

Presumably, the house views any statements from the dealer as "inducing action", and only allows the player to make decisions based on his own observations, nothing more. A player would get a warning from the dealer/floor if he asked the player sitting next to him how much was in the pot, so I can't see the rules being different for the dealer. Make sense?

[13CARDS 0]

At NFCR, no should be counting the pot for or telling any player how much is in the pot. Dealers should be keeping a running total of the pot in Limit Games to extract the proper rake.

[dna4ever 2]

Presumably, the house views any statements from the dealer as "inducing action", and only allows the player to make decisions based on his own observations, nothing more.

wouldnt really be inducing action unless he/she said "the donkey down in seat 4 raised" or "you know, the rock who has had AA the last 3 times he's raised in seat 2"anyways how can you not know who raised? if the action is to you, look to see who the first person on your left is that has more chips out.

[ajs510 122]

wouldnt really be inducing action unless he/she said "the donkey down in seat 4 raised" or "you know, the rock who has had AA the last 3 times he's raised in seat 2"

I believe I might tip such a dealer more than the requisite white chip though...

[Dogpatch 2]

I believe I might tip such a dealer more than the requisite white chip though...

Hell, in that case I'll look at his muck cards for you and tell when you need "any old 7 to make a straight" or "spades made it". lolz_{That crap annoys me.}

[psujohn 0]

A player would get a warning from the dealer/floor if he asked the player sitting next to him how much was in the pot, so I can't see the rules being different for the dealer.

No. Other players are allowed to say what's in the pot or recount the action if they wish though if they're not in the hand they really shouldn't.I assumed the house didn't want the dealer revealing the pot size or recounting action because if he did it wrong the player could claim the house was responsible for a loss. "You told me the 3 seat raised it. If I had known the 2 seat raised it I would have folded."Though yes, you have to be pretty much a complete moron to not be able to figure out who raised.I did see a guy table what he thought was a losing hand "I was going for the straight flush" and the dealer correctly pushed him the pot "And you made your straight". I was a bit disappointed when the guy only tipped him $1. I think I'd have given him $5 min and at least 10% on a bigger pot.

[ajs510 122]

No. Other players are allowed to say what's in the pot or recount the action if they wish though if they're not in the hand they really shouldn't.

Well which one is it? They're allowed or they really shouldn't?I've seen guys on numerous occasions start talking in the middle of a hand about their own perceptions (their read on what they think each player has), only to be warned by the dealer about influencing action and the one player to a hand rule. Maybe those dealers were wrong and you're right, I'm not going to scour house rules to win an argument, just saying I've seen it happen. I've never personally seen a dealer refuse to assist a player, but I've never actually sat with a player that had to ask how much was in the pot. If I had, there's no way I would ever leave that table until the person got up broke.

[11 to 1 0]

Well which one is it? They're allowed or they really shouldn't?I've seen guys on numerous occasions start talking in the middle of a hand about their own perceptions (their read on what they think each player has), only to be warned by the dealer about influencing action and the one player to a hand rule.

Saying what's in the pot or recounting the action is significantly different than saying someone is on a draw or must be playing a high pair because of past betting patterns or some tell. One just restates information already available to everyone - the other can easily influence the action. You would not want anyone making a comment that would cause your opponeent to fold instead of call if you were holding the nuts.

[ajs510 122]

You would not want anyone making a comment that would cause your opponeent to fold instead of call if you were holding the nuts.

Which is exactly why I wouldn't want someone to expressly tell the fish in question that there's more $$$ in the pot than he/she thinks there is, simply because he/she's too lazy to pay attention and/or figure it out for him/herself. People who can't follow a simple NL poker game deserve to have their money taken away from them. If they want everything to be spelled out for them they should stay home and play online.

[Cknman11 0]

If saying "the flush just got there" when the third suited card hits the board is unfairly influencing the game because someone may have over looked their draw and your comment brings it to their attention when their about to fold.Isn't it fair to say that by declaring how much is in the pot you may be influencing a player that was about to fold because he miscalculated what was in the pot, to now call because your comment made them aware of their error?

[DCJ001 0]

Rule 34 - "Players are entitled to be informed of the pot size in pot-limit games only. Dealers will not count the pot in limit and no-limit games."http://www.pokertda.com/rules.pdfDealers should not be stacking the chips in $25, $100 stacks, etc. to make it easier for players to count the pot. You might notice, when playing in a casino, that dealers should be keeping the pot in a pile of chips and knocking down any stacked chips that players may bet when they are moved into the pot.If a player needs to estimate the size of a pot, he can ask the dealer to spread the pot to make it easier to estimate.