nice post
Quote:
I recall a specific example where a regular player in a live tournament at a casino was involved in a hand with a tourist. The pot was large and it appeared the the regular was getting ready to move all in. He had been raised, and had reacted to the raise by stacking his chips as though he were ready to go all in. He began to move this stack forward ever so slightly when the tourist assumed it to mean an intent to move all in and flipped his hand and threw his remaining chips in.
The regular then mucked his hand and said he had not announced verbally his all-in and his bet was not binding (presumably upon seeing the tourists' cards and recognizing he was was beaten). The floorman, who happened to be on friendly terms with this regular was called and sided rather quickly that since his chips had not crossed the bet line and he had not signaled verbal intent, that a bet had not been made. The tourist was awarded the pot pre-all in.
There is no doubt in my mind this particular regular indeed took an angle shot and used his reputation as a regular to procure a controversial call from the floor. The tourist should not have exposed his hand so quickly and should have assured the action was an all-in bet before hand, but at the same time you can not give him full blame for thinking the player was all in. Others at the table clearly remarked they felt the regular had signaled all-in intent, but again, his regularity at the casino seemed to award him some "seniority" in the decision.
with regards to this, the lesson to be learned is wait for the bet to be complete. I've seen this play out 4 times, in cash games and tourneys. It's always ruled not a bet. If nothing is said and the chips don't cross the line, it's not a bet yet.