So the game is 1/2 nl. My opponent and I are heads up on the river and she bets out $30. I toss in a chip and say call. She wins the pot and on the next hand the dealer quietly says to me, "Just to let you know, next time you want to call, just say call. Because, to me and any other dealer throwing one chip in means an all-in." The other player agrees with the dealer and says she was confused because she thought I was going all in but then said call, and that had I not said call she would have treated it as an all in. Obviously I'll accept it as the rule at this casino because this dealer has been working there for 17 years and he doesn't mess around but I'm curious to know if this is a rule everywhere.

dealer is horrifically wrong but just accept that whack rule and don't do it next time i guess

I remember a live update where TJ Cloutier got angry at someone when he had the nuts or top full house or something at WSOP (I can't seem to find the pokernews live update that had this) and his opponent threw one chip in after he made a bet.

TJ then quickly saw it and tried to move his chips in, and the dealer didn't allow it, nor did the floorperson. In his grumpy old man voice he told the guy to be careful because back in the day one chip means you're going all in.

I have no idea the origination of this, maybe Sklansky, Ray Zee, or Mason can enlighten us on this because it apparently at one point in time did used to mean all in.

That would mean every unannounced limp preflop is an all-in..

I never heard of the "one chip in response to a bet means all-in" rule.

Not really a big fan of even the 'one chip to call' rule, but understand it.


Yes, check room rules, they vary. No, don't be the player that holds V to action that they didn't intent. Yes, clarify action if it's unclear.

@ madlex... an undersized chip tossed in might qualify... but the oversize chip rule probably takes priority. LOL imagine tossing a red to limp $1/2, seeing it's only a white and that you are now all-in...

Oh yeah, I should clarify that the TJ Cloutier incident was also river action, as well as OP's, so there might have been something weird with a one chip rule facing a bet on river back then, who knows.

Was it your last single oversized chip?



Side question that still fits the title of the thread but not the opening post's situation: In a tournament, if a player has just one oversized chip and he puts it in the pot without verbally declaring a raise or all-in, is the player all-in or is it just a call? Do you clarify with the player? If so, does your room follow the single chip rule strictly or are you guys allowed to ask for clarification?

Really? Even 17 year veteran dealers can be misinformed as to their house rules.

Ask a Shift Manager or above.

I can't see this being a valid rule anywhere as there are so many instances where it would cause controversy.

If you're not physically moving all of your chips forward or over the line then you have to verbally declare "all in". That is the only practice I have ever seen, although I haven't been to a ton of rooms.

All I meant was, I'm not going to tempt fate by continuously tossing in one chip with marginal hands, especially because the floor will back the dealer at this casino no matter how ridiculous the ruling. As an example, in one hand I was in the small blind and was looking at my opponent as the flop came down and dealer said check, and both of my opponents quickly check and he burns a card. I say wait a minute I didn't check and the dealer says "You looked at him so I thought you checked" I told him I have to verbally say check or tap the table. He calls floor and floor says any body motion whatsoever is a check.

In that case, find another poker room.

We would appreciate it if you were to name this room so we can choose to avoid it.

Also I don't mind the check ruling too much. Don't look at the next-to-act when the action is on you and checking is one of your options, especially if you don't want to check and if you won't be able to stop the action when it's interpreted as a check. This is wrong in most rooms:

The name of the casino is Dumb&Dumber. My tipping rate would probably be real low there if dealers and Floorpeople like that are commonplace.

It's so simple to verbalize your action, then no matter what, no matter who is confused, your action is clear.

By rule it is just a call.

This is not the rule almost anywhere. (And shouldn't be.)
If you want to check this out with the shift or room manager, don't ask if the dealer was wrong; just ask neutrally what the rule is: facing a bet, if I throw in one chip, have I called or gone allin?
And finally, DON'T JUST THROW IN ONE CHIP TO CALL. Even though you will see people do this a lot (apparently because they think it looks cool), it really isn't a good practice.
And, again, where is this? I'll bet they have some other interesting rules.