Asking a Player How Much he Has Left??? (1 Viewer)

[slisk250]

Dedicated dealer?…someone dealt and you could ask them to get a count. Beware if they are inaccurate.

But it was already mentioned...be a dick at my game, don’t be surprised when you don’t get any future seats.

It’s a friendly game at the EOL...be friendly.

 

[tabletalker7]

The last time someone asked me how much I had left I eyeballed his stack and told him "more than you do" and leaned back in my chair. Only time I have ever been asked that is when someone wants to appear all big and bad like they have the hand won already. Never tell them anything.

 

[slisk250]

The last time someone asked me how much I had left I eyeballed his stack and told him "more than you do" and leaned back in my chair. Only time I have ever been asked that is when someone wants to appear all big and bad like they have the hand won already. Never tell them anything.

I’d be sure to ask you every hand then.

 

[tabletalker7]

I’d be sure to ask you every hand then.

Last person who tried that went home broke - good luck to ya buddy

 

[slisk250]

Last person who tried that went home broke - good luck to ya buddy

lighten up francis

 

[tabletalker7]

lighten up francis

He seriously did - guy was so consumed with me thinking I was easy money that the rest of the table just picked him apart

 

[slisk250]

He seriously did - guy was so consumed with me thinking I was easy money that the rest of the table just picked him apart

asking has everything to do with deciding to bet or how much. Asking is legit and not an angle or anything else. In a tourney (OP situation) you are entitled to know...villain could have big chips hidden, other side of table, etc. It isn't out of line at all. Players that get their balls in a bunch about it won't be coming back, then can go to the casino and play a raked game and buy their own beers.

 

[Gobbs]

The last time someone asked me how much I had left I eyeballed his stack and told him "more than you do" and leaned back in my chair. Only time I have ever been asked that is when someone wants to appear all big and bad like they have the hand won already. Never tell them anything.

Then you likely play with some pretty crappy players (or you rarely have a significant number of chips, making them easy to count). Knowing how many chips an opponent has is often incredibly important.

 

[bhofeld]

I'd ask him to move his hands so you can see how many chips he has.
No one thinks you're fishing for info if you take that approach.

 

[rkbowlathon]

When a player bets, they hould know how much they arebetting. I hate when players put a stack down for a bet and dont even know/communicate the exact bet they have made (home game, no dedicated dealer).

 

[Gobbs]

When a player bets, they hould know how much they arebetting. I hate when players put a stack down for a bet and dont even know/communicate the exact bet they have made (home game, no dedicated dealer).

I don’t think I play with anybody who doesn’t know how much they are betting, but I sure wish I did.

Now, communicating that amount, that’s a different story. I often don’t announce my bet/raise amount. If you can’t figure it out, ask for a count. If the player won’t give you one, the dealer will. Usually, though, the amount is obvious.

 

[Johnblue]

In no limit hold em cash games... Chips on the table have to be clearly displayed, no hiding big chips behind stacks and I call out people for not having thier stacks easily decipherable, not just in an all in situation, if there are 100s and 25s on the table, they have to be clearly visible. It’s not just for all in situations, it matters a lot to me to know what’s going on with everyone’s stack.

As far as “getting a count” ... in a tournament, I understand... it matters sometimes, but it always bugs me when people ask, “can I get a count?” like seriously, you can’t estimate roughly what’s going on with this stack?

I think it’s pretty annoying to ask for the exact count. I think a dealer should oblige in a tournament, like deep in a game when it really matters and it’s the difference of getting busted out or not... but in a cash game, I have less tolerance and most of the time I think it’s pointless theatrics.

and if a player asks for a count, I definitely don’t feel obliged to sit there and dance my chips around for them. If it were a home cash game, I would make sure my chips were reasonably displayed and I would answer with something “about 160“

 

[Gobbs]

In no limit hold em cash games... Chips on the table have to be clearly displayed, no hiding big chips behind stacks and I call out people for not having thier stacks easily decipherable, not just in an all in situation, if there are 100s and 25s on the table, they have to be clearly visible. It’s not just for all in situations, it matters a lot to me to know what’s going on with everyone’s stack.

As far as “getting a count” ... in a tournament, I understand... it matters sometimes, but it always bugs me when people ask, “can I get a count?” like seriously, you can’t estimate roughly what’s going on with this stack?

I think it’s pretty annoying to ask for the exact count. I think a dealer should oblige in a tournament, like deep in a game when it really matters and it’s the difference of getting busted out or not... but in a cash game, I have less tolerance and most of the time I think it’s pointless theatrics.

and if a player asks for a count, I definitely don’t feel obliged to sit there and dance my chips around for them. If it were a home cash game, I would make sure my chips were reasonably displayed and I would answer with something “about 160“

Even though you don’t like it, I think you gave a good reason why you should ask for a count, though. Yes, players should be able to eyeball a stack and count it, but, as you alluded to, people sometimes hide chips. Asking for a count protects players against hidden chips.

 

[Frogzilla]

What if he had stacks more than 20? And couldn’t really tell how many chips were in his stack?

View attachment 349999

That’s a big stack. Does he have you obviously covered? If so, that explains it...

 

[JMC9389]

I get annoyed when people act like this in home games. By the book, you do not have to provide an answer to what your stack size is if asked. But the chips should all be easily visible, not hidden, and in easily countable stacks. If you're going to stack your chips like an idiot and hide them with your arms, anyone inquiring is perfectly justified to ask for a count.

It's a home game for goodness sake, it's not Vegas or AC.

 

[Gobbs]

I get annoyed when people act like this in home games. By the book, you do not have to provide an answer to what your stack size is if asked. But the chips should all be easily visible, not hidden, and in easily countable stacks. If you're going to stack your chips like an idiot and hide them with your arms, anyone inquiring is perfectly justified to ask for a count.

It's a home game for goodness sake, it's not Vegas or AC.

I’m not sure why you are drawing a distinction between Vegas and home games. The rules are the same. My $100 bill is worth the same amount in both places. My potential winnings are probably even a bit higher percentage of the prize pool in the home game. If I’m making an important decision, I want the right information and to make sure nobody is hiding chips on me. I don’t care where I am.

 

[JMC9389]

I’m not sure why you are drawing a distinction between Vegas and home games. The rules are the same. My $100 bill is worth the same amount in both places. My potential winnings are probably even a bit higher percentage of the prize pool in the home game. If I’m making an important decision, I want the right information and to make sure nobody is hiding chips on me. I don’t care where I am.

By that same token, a player that has their chips stacked as shown in OP's photo is going to get chirped at any table in Vegas, and rightfully so. That's angling to me, whether in a home game or in Vegas.

There's absolutely no need to be a hardo in a social home game about this kind of thing. I have every right to know what a player has, especially if they're angling on purpose or by accident, even. If I'm making a raise to the amount of what I think is putting the angler all in, but then reveals a whole barrel of T1000 chips hiding behind his arm in back of his stacks of T100 and T500 chips, you're damn right I'm going to be pissed.

 

[JMC9389]

Basically all I'm saying is don't be a dick, its a home game which are social 90% of the time anyway.

 

[BGinGA]

a player that has their chips stacked as shown in OP's photo.....

Call me blind, but I see no such picture....

 

[JMC9389]

Call me blind, but I see no such picture....

Post #22 on the first page of this thread

 

[Kid_Eastwood]

So if I understand well if the player you ask the question is not all in, you’ve to count yourself and (s)he has to give a clear view of his/her stack.

If the player you ask the question is all in, you are entitled to ask the amount of the bet. If the player does does want to answer, the dealer has to.

Correct ?

 

[Gobbs]

Basically all I'm saying is don't be a dick, its a home game which are social 90% of the time anyway.

...and I’m saying don’t be a dick at home games or casinos. One of the problems with home games is people say, “it’s social” and “we don’t need to be rule nazis.” I say it’s just as important to follow the rules in home games as casinos, unless you like pissing people off and causing hard feelings.

 

[JMC9389]

...and I’m saying don’t be a dick at home games or casinos. One of the problems with home games is people say, “it’s social” and “we don’t need to be rule nazis.” I say it’s just as important to follow the rules in home games as casinos, unless you like pissing people off and causing hard feelings.

Yep, I think we're agreeing here. As long as stacks are clearly visible and can be counted by me, I won't ask for a count. If someone is trying to angle me by hiding chips, then I have a problem with you, whether it's in my home game or a casino.

 

[DrStrange]

So what happens when the wrong amount gets announced?

It's late on a night with lots of booze. The host is spreading a game with $1s, $5s, $10s, $25s and two colors of $100s { the second color represents buy-ins on credit to help the host keep his books straight }. We are in a garage with a single 40 watt bulb for light. It isn't so easy to see the board. Not shocking that there might be confusion trying to look at stacks across the table. Extra bonus problem - the yellow $100 "credit" chip looks very similar to a white $1 chip.

So a big stack locks horns with a LAGtard. Lots of money can be made pressing very modest hands vs this villain as he might stack off with ace high. Needless to say the villain often gets paid off when he has a good hand.

LAGtard bets and big stack asks what does he have behind. "about $300" is the answer. Big stack jams and LAGtard calls only to find he has $700, which I think is a big surprise to the LAGtard. LAGtard also tables his hand - a straight - which has the big stack drawing dead. Needless to say big stack objects about the mistake once he is toast, though I imagine he wouldn't have been troubled by it if the roles had been reversed.

The LAGtard has three yellow $100 chips. I think it is fair assumption that the mistake is an honest mistake - he actually thinks the stack was ~$300.

So . . . . what now?

 

[Coyote]

Brighter bulbs (LEDs can do wonders for the Watt consumption) and a single type of chips for a given value?
Neat stacks with high-value chips on the top or in front is paramount.

By the way: if players' stacks should be neat and countable (which they should), shouldn't also the pot be neat and countable?
Is it a poker skill to count splashed pots? (I 'm asking shifting the issue here)

 

[Gobbs]

Yep, I think we're agreeing here. As long as stacks are clearly visible and can be counted by me, I won't ask for a count. If someone is trying to angle me by hiding chips, then I have a problem with you, whether it's in my home game or a casino.

Yes, I think we are agreeing except on one point. I’m not taking a chance that somebody is trying to angle me, or more likely, has a hidden chip or two with no intention to deceive. I’m asking for a count no matter what.