Best Holdem

Poker Etiquette: Keep the Game Moving

If your only exposure to real poker has come from watching high-stakes tournaments on TV, you might believe that every time it is your turn to act, you are supposed to spend between ten and thirty seconds stacking your chips over and over again while studying your opponents, even if you already know what you are going to do, so that Vince and Mike have plenty of time to whisper dramatically into their microphones about how good you are. Next time you make it the final table of a $10,000 buy-in tournament, you can get away with this.

But fixed-limit poker games that aren't broadcast on cable are supposed to move fast. In these environments you will have a maximum of three choices to take: you can fold, match a bet, or increase the bet. Deciding among these three options can involve a great amount of thought, but unlike those players on TV, you don't have a nearly infinite range of amounts to bet, and you won't be making life-or-death decisions. There is nothing wrong with taking time to ponder an important call. Just say, "time" if you need a minute to think so that the other players know you know it is your turn. Notwithstanding this kind of delay, there are a few practices you can employ to keep up the pace at the game.

One of the best ways to speed up a game is to have everyone place their bets properly. The typical player at the typical home game will ante and place bets by throwing his chips straight into the pot. This is called splashing the pot, and it is a faux pas among serious players because the game often must be paused in order to verify that the player put in the correct number of chips.

Instead of splashing the pot, players should place their chips on the table in front of them, about halfway between them and the pot, so that the bet is clearly identifiable by all players. At that point, they money belongs to the pot, but is just not in the pile yet. If a player raises, he places the increased number of chips in front of him, and all the players who wish to call simply match the bet. Making sure the "pot is right" is simple: at the end of the betting, every player still in the hand will have the same amount of money out in front (except if there's a side pot for a player who's all-in). Then, all the bets are pushed into the middle of the table. Putting money into the pot this way allows the amounts of the bets and raises to be ascertained immediately by all, which eliminates the need for players to incessantly ask, "Who didn't ante?" or "How much is it to me?" You will quickly notice the improvement.

In pot-limit, it usually saves time to keep the chips in the pot stacked so that players can quickly see how much is there. In high-low split games, it's easy to keep the pot split as the hand progresses, so time is not wasted after the hand.

Another way to facilitate a fast game is to clearly state what action you intend to take after you've made your decision. This allows the action to continue around the table as you physically place your bet. There are only five possible actions in poker: you can check, bet, call, raise, or fold. When the action comes to you, just say one of these words. In a fixed-limit game, everyone knows exactly what these actions means in terms of chips, because the amounts of bets and raises are fixed by the rules. Note that this expedited process is based on the rule that verbal declarations of intent are binding.

One more habit that will speed up the game: Keep your cards on the table and visible to other players while you are still in the hand. This reduces the chance that you will be skipped in the action because players don't realize that you are still in. You should also protect those hole cards by placing a chip or some other object on top of them.

Best Holdem
The Premium Starting Hands in Low Limit Texas Holdem
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Best Holdem

Poker Etiquette: Keep the Game Moving If your only exposure to real poker has come from watching high-stakes tournaments on TV, you might believe that every time it is your turn to act, you are supposed to spend between ten and thirty seconds stacking your chips over and over again while studying your opponents, even if you already know what you are going to do, so that Vince and Mike have plenty of time to whisper dramatically into their microphones about how good you are. Next time you make it the final table of a $10,000 buy-in tournament, you can get away with this. But fixed-limit poker games that aren't broadcast on cable are supposed to move fast. In these environments you will have a maximum of three choices to take: you can fold, match a bet, or increase the bet. Deciding among these three options can involve a great amount of thought, but unlike those players on TV, you don't have a nearly infinite range of amounts to bet, and you won't be making life-or-death decisions. There is nothing wrong with taking time to ponder an important call. Just say, "time" if you need a minute to think so that the other players know you know it is your turn. Notwithstanding this kind of delay, there are a few practices you can employ to keep up the pace at the game. One of the best ways to speed up a game is to have everyone place their bets properly. The typical player at the typical home game will ante and place bets by throwing his chips straight into the pot. This is called splashing the pot, and it is a faux pas among serious players because the game often must be paused in order to verify that the player put in the correct number of chips. Instead of splashing the pot, players should place their chips on the table in front of them, about halfway between them and the pot, so that the bet is clearly identifiable by all players. At that point, they money belongs to the pot, but is just not in the pile yet. If a player raises, he places the increased number of chips in front of him, and all the players who wish to call simply match the bet. Making sure the "pot is right" is simple: at the end of the betting, every player still in the hand will have the same amount of money out in front (except if there's a side pot for a player who's all-in). Then, all the bets are pushed into the middle of the table. Putting money into the pot this way allows the amounts of the bets and raises to be ascertained immediately by all, which eliminates the need for players to incessantly ask, "Who didn't ante?" or "How much is it to me?" You will quickly notice the improvement. In pot-limit, it usually saves time to keep the chips in the pot stacked so that players can quickly see how much is there. In high-low split games, it's easy to keep the pot split as the hand progresses, so time is not wasted after the hand. Another way to facilitate a fast game is to clearly state what action you intend to take after you've made your decision. This allows the action to continue around the table as you physically place your bet. There are only five possible actions in poker: you can check, bet, call, raise, or fold. When the action comes to you, just say one of these words. In a fixed-limit game, everyone knows exactly what these actions means in terms of chips, because the amounts of bets and raises are fixed by the rules. Note that this expedited process is based on the rule that verbal declarations of intent are binding. One more habit that will speed up the game: Keep your cards on the table and visible to other players while you are still in the hand. This reduces the chance that you will be skipped in the action because players don't realize that you are still in. You should also protect those hole cards by placing a chip or some other object on top of them.	Best Holdem The Premium Starting Hands in Low Limit Texas Holdem Best holdem