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Archive-name: gambling-faq/poker
URL: http://www.rgpfaq.com
Updated 8 Apr 2004
The official and up-to-date version of this page is at:
http://www.rgpfaq.com
rec.gambling.poker FAQ
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 1 Introduction
1.1 About the FAQ. Redistribution. How to submit updates and
suggestions.
1.2 Who pays for the FAQ? How do I get the best online poker
sign-up bonus? And why are those questions related?
1.3 Useful poker links.
* 2 Poker games and rules
* 2.1 How to play
2.1.1 What are the basic rules of poker? What are the hand
rankings?
2.1.2 What happens if two players have the same hand? How do
you divide the pot?
2.1.3 What should I expect the first time I play poker in a
casino or card room? What etiquette should I follow?
2.1.4 What is a poker tournament? How does one work? What is
a chip race? What is a satellite?
2.1.5 What are some good books about poker?
2.1.6 What are some good magazines about poker?
2.1.7 What are some good poker-related software programs?
2.1.8 What do all these poker terms mean? Table stakes, no
limit, all-in, the nuts, drawing dead, and a thousand more...
* 2.2 Popular poker games
2.2.1 What are some fun home poker games?
2.2.2 How do you play Texas Hold'em?
2.2.3 How do you play Omaha?
2.2.4 How do you play Chowaha?
2.2.5 How do you play no-limit seven-card stud? What is
Mississippi Stud?
* 2.3 More advanced topics
2.3.1 What does pot-limit mean?
2.3.2 What does half-pot-limit mean?
2.3.3 What is a kill pot? What is a game with a kill? What
is a half kill?
2.3.4 What is a straddle bet?
2.3.5 What is Hi-Lo declare? What if someone declares both
ways but ties?
2.3.6 What is a burn card and why is it dealt?
2.3.7 What happens if there aren't enough cards in the deck
to deal the final card in 7-card stud?
* 2.4 Odds and probabilities
2.4.1 Why are poker hands ranked the way they are?
2.4.2 What is the correct ranking for 3-card poker hands?
2.4.3 Why are ace-hi flushes ranked highest, when it's much
harder to get a seven-hi flush? And similarly for two pairs?
2.4.4 What are my chances of sucking out on my opponent in
Hold'em?
2.4.5 What are my chances of sucking out on my opponent in
Stud?
2.4.6 How many fundamentally different Omaha or Omaha-8
starting hands are there?
* 2.5 Miscellaneous
2.5.1 What is the difference between a shill and a
proposition player? What skills are needed to be one?
2.5.2 What is the Dead Man's Hand?
* 3 Poker strategy
3.1 What skills are important for Texas Hold'em?
3.2 What is a good preflop strategy for limit Texas Hold'em?
3.3 How does tournament strategy differ from that of regular games?
3.4 Is "checking it down" in a tournament implicit collusion?
3.5 Can one overcome the rake at low limit poker games?
* 4 Poker community
4.1 When can I meet and play poker with fellow r.g.pers? What
are BARGE, FARGO, etc?
4.2 What the hell is Rumple Mintz?
4.3 What is the World Series of Poker?
4.4 What is IRC poker and how can I play?
* 5 Online poker
5.1 Where can I play online poker against real people for real
money? Is it legal? Is it safe?
5.2 What are some advantages of online poker over cardroom poker?
5.3 How do I find out what games are available and how many
tables are active at each online site?
5.4 What is the online "cash-out curse"? Is the curse evidence
that the sites are rigged?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Introduction
1.1 About the FAQ. Redistribution. How to submit updates and
suggestions.
Author: rgpfaq.com
Last updated: Oct 2003
Copyright * 2004 rgpfaq.com
The official and up-to-date version of this answer is here [4].
This is the rec.gambling.poker Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list. It
is officially hosted in two locations:
* http://www.rgpfaq.com
* http://www.conjelco.com/faq/poker.html
A text version is posted to rec.gambling.poker once per
month. There is also a single-page HTML version .
*Copying.* This document contains material copyrighted by various
authors. If you want to redistribute or copy the FAQ, you have these
options:
1. You may freely link to either of the URLs above.
2. You may copy or redistribute the FAQ in its entirety and without
modifications, either in HTML or text form. You must retain the
authorship and copyright notices as they are.
3. You may request permission to copy or redistribute a portion of
the FAQ by writing to either info@rgpfaq.com
or to the individual
copyright holder.
*Updates.* Changes or additions to the FAQ should be submitted to:
info@rgpfaq.com . Include the word
"FAQ" in the subject to avoid being lost amid the spam.
Copyright * 2004 rgpfaq.com. Unauthorized copying prohibited. Contact
info@rgpfaq.com for permission to
redistribute.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.2 Who pays for the FAQ? How do I get the best online poker
sign-up bonus? And why are those questions related?
Author: rgpfaq.com
Last updated: Oct 2003
Copyright * 2004 rgpfaq.com
The official and up-to-date version of this answer is here [5].
The rec.gambling.poker FAQ is a *volunteer effort*. It's a lot of work
to update articles with fresh information, maintain old links and add
new ones, and keep abreast of the rapidly changing world of poker. If
you have an update or want to submit a new article, send mail to
info@rgpfaq.com . We'll give you
full credit for your article (you retain the copyright) and help you
become famous among the r.g.p. community!
*(Almost) no ads!* You'll notice that rgpfaq.com [6] doesn't distract
your eye with a dozen flashing banner ads on every page. Instead we try
to keep the site as plain as possible to make it easy for you to find
the information you need. We figure if you wanted to be on another site
you'd go there yourself.
But there is a way you can help the FAQ financially if you are thinking
about opening up an online poker account. By taking advantage of the
system of *online poker sign-up bonuses*, you can receive a bonus
deposit (usually $20 to $100) when you open a new account and help fund
the FAQ at the same time. How's that? By using the bonus code of our
sponsor site, who receives a referral fee from the poker site, and then
donates many hours of volunteer time to the FAQ (and also pays for our
web hosting bandwidth).
*How do these referrals work?* When you open up an online poker account,
you have a few choices:
1. *No bonus code or referral ID*. If you surf directly to a poker
site by typing in their URL and then download the software, the
account you open won't be associated with any referrer. You may
receive some sort of sign-up bonus from the site, or not,
depending on what promotions they happen to be running.
2. *Sneaky referral ID*. If you ever click on a banner ad that takes
you to a poker site and then, perhaps much later, you download the
software, your new account will be tagged with the referral ID of
the site with the banner ad (unless you use a bonus code,
explained next). You can usually see the ID in the landing page
URL. Sometimes the referring site offers a sign-up bonus that you
will get when you open your account, but sometimes not. In any
case, the referring site receives credit for helping the poker
site find you, even if you don't get a bonus.
3. *Sign-up bonus code*. No matter how you download the software, if
you enter a sign-up bonus code in the account registration form
then you will receive the bonus and the promoter of the bonus code
will receive credit for sending a new customer. By using a bonus
code, you can be sure of getting the best bonus currently
available and also know who will benefit from the opening of your
account. Rather than helping some random banner advertiser or
spammer, you can choose a more deserving recipient.
Now, there is no question that you want to receive a sign-up bonus when
you open a new online poker account. The only decision is who you want
to receive the referral fee. In the hope that you find this FAQ a worthy
cause, we refer you to a constantly updated list of the best sign-up
bonuses offered by the top sites. You can find the latest codes in the
*bonus code center* [1].
Copyright * 2004 rgpfaq.com. Unauthorized copying prohibited. Contact
info@rgpfaq.com for permission to
redistribute.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.3 Useful poker links.
Author: Michael Maurer
Last updated: Apr 2004
Copyright * 2004 Michael Maurer
The official and up-to-date version of this answer is here [7].
*Ways to access rec.gambling.poker:*
Usenet access [8] to rec.gambling.poker
Google access [9] to rec.gambling.poker
RecPoker [10] -- web gateway to rec.gambling.poker
Live ActionPoker [11] -- web gateway to rec.gambling.poker
*Web sites - r.g.p related:*
rgpfaq.com [6] -- home of the rec.gambling.poker FAQ
Conjelco [12] -- longtime bookstore for r.g.p. readers and hoster of
this FAQ
BARGE [13] -- Big Annual Rec.Gambling Excursion (details)
World Rec.Gambling Poker Tournament [14] -- the famous annual email
poker tournament
IRC Poker Database [15] -- over 10 million hands recorded on the IRC
poker server
*Web sites - maintained by r.g.p individuals:*
Poker Portal [16] -- an amazing collection of poker links
Dan Kimberg's Poker Page [17]
Ken Churilla's Poker Page [18]
Jazbo's Poker Page [19]
Abdul's Pos. E.V. Poker Page [20]
Izmet Fekali's Playing With the Fish [21]
Jim Geary's Poker Page [22]
Steve Badger's PlayWinningPoker [23]
JohnnyD Poker [24]
Lou Krieger Online [25]
Daniel Negreanu's Full Contact Poker [26]
HowardLederer.com [27]
Wolf's Poker Page [28]
David Zanetti's Mississippi Stud Page [29]
Andy Bloch's WPT Fan Site [30]
*Non-r.g.p poker forums:*
Two Plus Two Forums [31]
United Poker Forum [32]
The Poker Forum [33]
Poker In Europe Forums [34]
See Poker Portal [16] for more
*Web sites - online poker references:*
PokerPulse [35] -- traffic rankings for online poker sites
The Poker Project [36] -- reviews of online poker sites
Poker Listings [37] -- reviews of online poker sites
Which Poker UK [38] -- reviews of online poker sites, especially in UK
See Poker Portal [16] for many more
*Web sites - other commercial:*
Poker Pages [39] -- lots of good tournament info, articles and forums
Poker School Online [40] -- a learning community
Card Player Magazine [41] -- articles by top poker columnists
Home Poker [42] -- fun variations to spice up your home game
Home Poker Games [43] -- where to play in your neighborhood
Learn Tournament Poker [44] -- poker tutoring services
Poker.net [45] -- articles plus a directory of real-life cardrooms
Poker Search [46] -- includes guide to US cardrooms
See Poker Portal [16] for many more
*Poker references:*
Mike Caro University Library [47]
Caro and Cooke's Rules of Real Poker [48]
Bob Ciaffone's "Robert's Rules of Poker" [49]
Tournament Directors Association (TDA) Rules [51]
Copyright * 2004 Michael Maurer. Unauthorized copying prohibited.
Contact info@rgpfaq.com for
permission to redistribute.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Poker games and rules
2.1 How to play
2.1.1 What are the basic rules of poker? What are the hand rankings?
Author: Michael Maurer
Last updated: Jan 2004
Copyright * 2004 Michael Maurer
The official and up-to-date version of this answer is here [52].
Most variants of poker satisfy the following definition, but in a home
game of course you are free to modify the rules as you see fit.
Poker is a card game in which players bet into a communal pot during the
course of a hand, and in which the player holding the best hand at the
end of the betting wins the pot. During a given betting round, each
remaining player in turn may take one of four actions:
1. *check*, a bet of zero that does not forfeit interest in the pot
2. *bet* or *raise*, a nonzero bet greater than preceding bets that
all successive players must match or exceed or else forfeit all
interest in the pot
3. *call*, a nonzero bet equal to a preceding bet that maintains a
player's interest in the pot
4. *fold*, a surrender of interest in the pot in response to another
player's bet, accompanied by the loss of one's cards and previous
bets
Betting usually proceeds in a circle until each player has either called
all bets or folded. Different poker games have various numbers of
betting rounds interspersed with the receipt or replacement of cards.
Poker is usually played with a standard 4-suit 52-card deck, but a joker
or other wild cards may be added. The ace normally plays high, but can
sometimes play low, as explained below. At the showdown, those players
still remaining compare their hands according to the following rankings:
1. *Straight flush*, five cards of the same suit in sequence, such as
76543 of hearts. Ranked by the top card, so that AKQJT is the best
straight flush, also called a *royal flush*. The ace can play low
to make 5432A, the lowest straight flush.
2. *Four of a kind*, four cards of the same rank accompanied by a
"kicker", like 44442. Ranked by the quads, so that 44442 beats
3333K, and then ranked by the side card, so that 4444A beats
4444K(*).
3. *Full house*, three cards of one rank accompanied by two of
another, such as 777JJ. Ranked by the trips, so that 44422 beats
333AA, and then ranked by the pair, so that 444AA beats 444KK(*).
4. *Flush*, five cards of the same suit, such as AJ942 of hearts.
Ranked by the top card, and then by the next card, and so on for
all five cards, so that AJ942 beats AJ876. Suits are not used to
break ties.
5. *Straight*, five cards in sequence, such as 76543. The ace plays
either high or low, making AKQJT and 5432A. "Around the corner"
straights like 32AKQ are usually not allowed.
6. *Three of a kind*, three cards of the same rank and two kickers of
different ranks, such as KKK84. Ranked by the trips, so that KKK84
beats QQQAK, and then ranked by the two kickers, so that QQQAK
beats QQQA7(*).
7. *Two pair*, two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and a
kicker of a third rank, such as KK449. Ranked by the top pair,
then the bottom pair and finally the kicker, so that KK449 beats
any of QQJJA, KK22Q, and KK445.
8. *One pair*, two cards of one rank accompanied by three kickers of
different ranks, such as AAK53. Ranked by the pair, followed by
each kicker in turn, so that AAK53 beats AAK52.
9. *High card*, any hand that does not qualify as one of the better
hands above, such as KJ542 of mixed suits. Ranked by the top card,
then the second card and so on for all five cards, as for flushes.
Suits are not used to break ties.
(* Such matchups are only possible in games where there are wild cards
or where community cards are shared, such as Texas Holdem.)
Suits are not used to break ties, nor are cards beyond the fifth; only
the best five cards in each hand are used in the comparison. In the case
of a tie, the pot is split equally among the winning hands. For a more
detailed explanation, see the section on splitting the pot
.
Several variations are possible when playing for low. Some games permit
the ace to play low and ignore straights and flushes, making 5432A the
best possible low, even if it makes a straight flush. Other games just
reverse the order used for high hands, making 75432 of mixed suits the
best possible low. Still others count straights and flushes against you
but let the ace play low, making 6432A best. Note that in most games in
which the ace plays low, a pair of aces is lower than a pair of deuces,
just as an ace is lower than a deuce.
When a joker is in play, it usually can only be used as an ace or to
complete a straight or flush. It cannot be used as a true wild card, for
example, as a queen to make QQ43X play as three queens. When playing for
low, the joker becomes the lowest rank not already held, so 864AX is
played as 8642A, with the joker used as a deuce.
Although true wild cards are rarely seen in a casino, they are a popular
way to add excitement to a home game. Wild cards introduce an additional
hand, five of a kind, which normally ranks above a straight flush. They
can also cause confusion when two players hold the same hand composed of
different wild card combinations. The standard rules of poker do not
distinguish between such hands, but some players prefer to rank hands
using fewer wild cards above less "natural" versions of the same hand.
You may find these comprehensive poker rulebooks helpful:
Caro and Cooke's Rules of Real Poker [48]
Bob Ciaffone's "Robert's Rules of Poker" [49]
Tournament Directors Association (TDA) Rules [51]
Copyright * 2004 Michael Maurer. Unauthorized copying prohibited.
Contact info@rgpfaq.com for
permission to redistribute.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.1.2 What happens if two players have the same hand? How do you
divide the pot?
Author: Michael Maurer
Last updated: Jan 2004
Copyright * 2004 Michael Maurer
The official and up-to-date version of this answer is here [53].
In some forms of poker it is fairly common for two or more players to
end up with the same best hand. In that case, the players with equal
hands split the pot equally between them. Remember that only the best
five cards of a player's hand are considered in the showdown. If the
best five cards yield a tie, you do not use additional cards to break
the tie. Also, you don't look at the suits to break a tie. It's simply a
tie. Here are some examples:
* In Holdem, one player has [Ah Jc] and another player has [As Jd].
The final board is Ad Ts 8s 4h 2d. Both players have a pair of
aces with J-T-8 kickers. They split the pot.
* In Holdem, one player has [Ah Jc] and another player has [As 2d].
The final board is Ad Kc Ts Th 2c. Both players have two pair,
aces and tens, with a king kicker. They split the pot.
* In Holdem, one player has [Ah Ac], a second player has [8s 7s],
and a third player has [5s 4h]. The final board is Th 9h 8d 7d 6c.
All three players have a straight, ten high. This is called
"playing the board". They split the pot three ways.
* In Omaha high/low split, one player has [Ac 3d Th Td] and another
player has [As 3s 4c 5d]. The final board is 2c 4d 8s Ts Jc.
Remember that in Omaha, each player must play exactly two cards
from his hand and three from the board, but can use a different
two cards for the high and low halves of the pot. For the high
half of the pot, the first player plays [Th Td] for three of a
kind, tens, with J-8 kickers, while the second player plays [As
4c] for a pair of fours, A-J-T kickers. The first player wins all
of the high half of the pot. For the low half of the pot, the
first player plays [Ac 3d] for an 8-4-3-2-A low, while the second
player plays [As 3s] for an 8-4-3-2-A low. They have the same hand
for low, so they split the low half of the pot. All told, the
first player wins three quarters of the pot and the second player
wins one quarter.
* In Seven-card Stud, one player has [Ac Ad Tc Td Js 8s 4s] and
another player has [As Ah Ts Th 5s 5h Jd]. Both players have two
pair, aces and tens, with a jack kicker. You don't consider the
sixth or seventh cards. You can see this is pretty unusual for
stud and happens mostly with straights.
What about the extra chip? If you split the pot and there is an extra
chip left over, the usual rule is to award it to the first winning
player in the clockwise direction from the dealer.
What about high-low declare? In high-low split declare games, the rules
can be more complicated. See the special high-low declare section
for more details.
Copyright * 2004 Michael Maurer. Unauthorized copying prohibited.
Contact info@rgpfaq.com for
permission to redistribute.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.1.3 What should I expect the first time I play poker in a casino
or card room? What etiquette should I follow?
Author: Michael Maurer
Last updated: Sep 2003
Copyright * 2004 Michael Maurer
The official and up-to-date version of this answer is here [54].
Many people are intimidated on their first visit to a public cardroom.
Knowing what to expect and some simple rules of etiquette will help the
first-time visitor relax and have a good time.
Any cardroom with more than a few tables will have a sign-up desk or
board for the various games being played. Usually someone will be
standing here to take your name if a seat is not immediately available.
This person can explain what games are offered, the betting limits,
special house rules and so on. This is the moment of your first
decision: which game and for what stakes?
Choosing a game is fairly easy; you already know which game is most
familiar to you. You may be surprised to find that your favorite home
games are not spread in public cardrooms. Most will offer one or more of
Texas Hold'em, Seven-Card Stud, and Omaha Hold'em (usually hi/lo split,
8-or-better for low). Sometimes you will find California Lowball (5-card
draw for low), Seven-Card Stud hi/lo, or Hold'em variations like
Pineapple. You will rarely find High Draw (5-card draw for hi), and will
never find home game pot-builders like Anaconda, Follow-the-Queen, 7-27
or Guts. Except for the joker in draw poker, cardrooms never use wild
cards.
Choosing a betting limit is a bit harder. It is best to start playing at
a limit so small that the money is not important to you. After all, with
all the excitement of your first time playing poker there is no need to
be worried about losing the nest egg to a table full of sharks. Betting
limits are typically expressed as $1-$5 or $3-$6, and may be
"spread-limit" or "structured-limit". A spread-limit means one can bet
or raise any amount between the two numbers (although a raise must be at
least as much as a previous bet or raise). For example, in $1-$5
spread-limit, if one person bets $2 the next person is free to call the
$2 or raise $2, $3, $4, or $5, but cannot raise just $1. On the next
round, everything is reset and the first bettor may bet anything from $1
to $5. In structured-limit like $3-$6 (usually recognizable by a factor
of two between betting limits), all betting and raising on early rounds
is in units of $3, and on later rounds is in units of $6. One only has a
choice of *whether* to bet or raise; the amount is fixed by the limit.
One usually doesn't have a choice between spread and structured betting
at a given limit. Keep in mind that it is quite easy to win or lose 20
"big bets" (the large number in the limit) in an hour of play. Also,
since your mind will be occupied with the mechanics of the game while
the regular players consider strategy, you are more likely to lose than
win. In other words: choose a low limit.
If the game you want is full, your name will go on a list and the person
running the list will call you when a seat opens up. Depending on the
cardroom, you may have trouble hearing your name called and they may be
quick to pass you over, so be alert. Once a seat is available, the list
person will vaguely direct you toward it, or toward a floorman who will
show you where to sit.
Now is the time for you to take out your money and for the other players
to look you over. A good choice for this "buy-in" is ten to twenty big
bets, but you must buy-in for at least the posted table minimum, usually
about five big bets. Most public poker games are played "table-stakes",
which means that you can't reach into your pocket for more money during
the play of a hand. It also means that you can't be forced out of a pot
because of insufficient funds. If you run out of money during a hand you
are still in the pot (the dealer will say you are "all-in"), but further
betting is "on the side" for an additional pot you cannot win. Between
hands, you are free to buy as many chips as you want, but are not
allowed to take any chips off the table unless you are leaving. This
final rule gives opponents a chance to win back what they have lost to
you. If you bust out, you may buy back in for at least the table minimum
or leave.
Once you have told the dealer how much money you are playing, the dealer
may sell you chips right away or call over a chip runner to do so. You
may want to tell the dealer that you are a first-time player. This is a
signal to the dealer to give a little explanation when it is your turn
to act, and to the other players to extend you a bit of courtesy when
you slow down the game. Everyone will figure it out in a few minutes
anyway, so don't be bashful. You may even ask to sit out a few hands
just to see how it all works.
There are three ways that pots are seeded with money at the beginning of
the hand. The most familiar to the home player is the "ante", where each
player tosses a small amount into the pot for the right to be dealt a
hand. The second way, often used in conjunction with an ante, is the
"forced bring-in". For example, in seven-card stud, after everyone antes
and is dealt the first three cards, the player with the lowest upcard
may be forced to bet to get things started. The third way, often used in
games without upcards like Hold'em or Omaha, is a "forced blind bet".
This is similar to the bring-in, but is always made by the person
immediately after the player with the "button". The "button" is a
plastic disk that moves around the table and indicates which player is
acting as dealer for the hand (of course, the house dealer does the
actual dealing of cards, but does not play). A second or even third
blind may follow the first, usually of increasing size. Whichever seed
method is used, note that this initial pot, small as it is, is the only
reason to play at all.
If the game has blinds, the dealer may now ask you if you want to
"post". This means, "do you want to pay extra to see a hand now, in bad
position, and then pay the blinds, or are you willing to sit and watch
for a few minutes?" Answer "no, I'll wait" and watch the game until the
dealer tells you it's time to begin, usually after the blinds pass you.
Finally, it is your turn to get cards and play. Your first impression
will probably be how fast the game seems to move. If you are playing
stud, several upcards may be "mucked" (folded into the discards) before
you even see them; if you are playing hold'em, it may be your turn to
act before you have looked at your cards. After a few hands you should
settle into the rhythm and be able to keep up. If you ever get confused,
just ask the dealer what is going on.
When playing, consider the following elements of poker etiquette:
Acting in Turn
Although you may see others fold or call out of turn, don't do it
yourself. It is considered rude because it gives an unfair advantage to
the players before you who have yet to act. This is especially important
at the showdown when only three players are left. If players after you
are acting out of turn while you decide what to do, say "Time!" to make
it clear that you have not yet acted.
Handling Cards
You may find it awkward at first to peek at your own cards without
exposing them to others. Note that the other players have no formal
obligation to alert you to your clumsiness, although some will. Watch
how the other players manage it and emulate them. Leave your cards in
sight at all times; holding them in your lap or passing them to your
kibitzing friend is grounds for killing your hand. Finally, if you
intentionally show your cards to another player during the hand, both
your hands may be declared dead. Your neighbor might want to see *you*
declared dead :) if this happens!
Protecting Cards
In a game with "pocket cards" like Hold'em or Omaha, it is your
responsibility to "protect your own cards". This confusing phrase really
means "put a chip on your cards". If your cards are just sitting out in
the open, you are subject to two possible disasters. First, the dealer
may scoop them up in a blink because to leave one's cards unprotected is
a signal that you are folding. Second, another player's cards may happen
to touch yours as they fold, disqualifying your hand and your interest
in the pot. Along the same lines, when you turn your cards face up at
the showdown, be careful not to lose control of your cards. If one of
them falls off the table or lands face-down among the discards your hand
will be dead, even if that card is not used to make your hand.
Accidentally Checking
In some fast-paced games, a moment of inaction when it is your turn to
act may be interpreted as a check. Usually, a verbal declaration or
rapping one's hand on the table is required, but many players are
impatient and will assume your pause is a check. If you need more than a
second to decide what to do, call "Time!" to stop the action. While you
decide, don't tap your fingers nervously; that is a clear check signal
and will be considered binding.
String Bets
A "string bet" is a bet that initially looks like a call, but then turns
out to be a raise. Once your hand has put some chips out, you may not go
back to your stack to get more chips and increase the size of your bet,
unless you verbally declared the size of your bet at the beginning. If
you always declare "call" or "raise" as you bet, you will be immune to
this problem. Note that a verbal declaration in turn is binding, so a
verbal string bet is possible and also prohibited. That means you cannot
say "I call your $5, and raise you another $5!" Once you have said you
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