If you read the novel that I wrote about my Saturday tournament, one of the more interesting events occurred when a player had the clock called on him twice within 30 minutes. It was a bit uncomfortable, and a reliable reg got pretty pissed. While I expect him to keep playing with the group, I can see how the situation might drive off a less dedicated player.

Does your group allow "calling the clock"? Under what circumstances? How often do players use it?

I've never had anyone call the clock on anybody and I have some SLOW decision makers. Can it be annoying when they are being slow, you bet? But its a friendly game so take what time you need. Plus it gives people a chance to get a beer, go to the bathroom, etc. Would pretty pretty douchy imo if someone did that. Twice though in 30 min....puke.

I allow the clock to be called in cash and tournament by anyone sitting at the table.

I get a clock call maybe once or twice a year. On the other hand, I doubt if there is one player a month who takes more than two minutes to act and problably not a dozen cases a month where someone needs a full minute.

Players typically don't have a good sense of time at the table and sometimes greatly overestimate how long someone is taking to act. Calling the clock in any of the games in my rotation is almost meaningless in terms of saving time. It might provide a "tilt" effect vs some of the players - but excessive clock callers might also discover an "uninvite" effect if they end up spoiling the game.

DrStrange

Just registered that this is a toruney situation where I have very little experience. I think that it is more resonable in this situation to do so, although I can see how it would upset a player. Maybe a general house rule of at the end of x (maybe like 4 or 5) number of minutes a hand is dead if a player is still thinking. That way it isn't one player having to call it on another player.

Most dealers I know do not enjoy calling the clock, largely because it's usually called way too soon. Ever notice the floor tends not to hear it, and then slowly wander over?

I would never allow it used as a weapon. Generally, we want a "reasonable" amount of time to have passed, and that certainly includes judgment on the state of the hand. This, however, sort of violates OPTAH, so it's a sticky spot.

I haven't yet read the TR, but for a home tournament I'd say "give it a minute," and then only after a couple more would I do an official clock (sixty seconds). For a cash game it'd have to be really egregious.

Nobody thinks better when pressured. Calling a clock tends to make the hand take even longer. It's a production, and it sets a nasty tone at the table. I've heard plenty of players say, "It's okay, take all the time you need," when another has apologized for taking too long.

Read the TR (nice job, BTW)...

Er, uh, you kinda f'd up. The clock isn't something anybody can trigger at any time. It needs to be justified. When he asked if he could call it, you should have said, "No."

The first question the floor ever asks of me is, "Has a reasonable amount of time passed?" Thirty seconds is not a reasonable amount of time. Buy him a beer and apologize for misunderstanding the rule. It happens. If that's the only mistake you made all tourney, you did better than most floor I know.

I voted for the tourney only option. It has come up a few times in my cash games but I have gently steered the conversation by saying something along the lines of "Give him some time. It's a big pot." This does not spare repeat offenders from some friendly ribbing from the rest of the table. So far I have had a good balance and nobody really abuses things. There is one guy who used to try and get reads by waiting but everybody gave him so much grief he stopped doing it.

I think pfap has it right. Keeping the mood lighter is good for the game.

Just logged onto my computer and realized that I hate the 2+2 app since it doesn't show polls or the fact that this is a poll with a post. Would've made me not sound like an idiot the first time around. I don't need any additional help with that...

Thank you.

After the fact, I really wasn't sure if I'd handled it correctly or not. My understanding has always been that any player can ask for a clock at any time, and I've never had that challenged because until last weekend, I've never had a player call the clock in my games.

I'll probably take your advice here, buy the offended player a beer, and use this as a learning experience for the whole group.

(Thread not over, btw! I still want to hear how other people handle calls for the clock.)

Here's the relevant rule from RRoP:

Note that the house has the right to do it but is not required to do so, lending further support to pfap's assertion that I f'd up.

My home games are generally very casual and friendly, so I have never heard the call for a clock.

During tournaments, however, we do extend the courtesy of pausing the tournament clock to provide the player with ample decision-making time.

This

We allow it, it gets called 1-2 times a session, usually against the same people (well actually one person) who can take a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time. Overall it doesn't get abused so I don't mind having it though I myself never call a clock on anyone.

We might get into a situation one or twice a session where a clock could be called but we don't call clock. Someone will eventually say something like, "Can I call a clock?" or "Clock" and then we joke about it for a few moments then give the person as much time as he/she needs. It has never been a chronic problem. Not sure how we would handle a player who always needs the clock.

I've only called the clock on a player once or maybe twice in five years. I generally won't do it. I don't mind if someone else takes a minute to make a tough decision but if they are abusing that, I will call it. Generally I find that other people have less patience than I do so by the time I'm thinking it's been long enough someone else has already spoken up.

Our Homegame is cash only .25-.50 so that seldom would be a problem. As the host I would strongly advise players not to call clocks seriously, but use it as a needle! Guess tournaments (especially short blinds) need it as a possible rule sometimes.