Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyGroomsTD
This topic is being discussed on FB in a thread started by Matt Savage. When players make a physical bet of one amount and verbalize another, I am leaning toward allowing the caller the option of calling either amount. It will stop that obvious angle shoot. Players that continue to do this will be encouraged to play elsewhere.
First I appreciate your follow up. In response to the earlier reply, I had already read every related post ITT. Unfortunately I don't really FB so I would likely never find that thread.
What I find wrong with your position is two fold. First you have rewarded the angler with the information he desires. And you are forcing the victim to reveal more info. At a min you need to also limit the angler to only non aggressive actions. IOW, checks and calls; no bets or raises for the rest of the hand.
The second issue is that these misleading actions are already covered in the rules. Verbal is binding but so is a physical betting action. So whichever is first is his action. If verbal is first, then that is his action. If the chips are first then that is the action. Only controversy is if they happen at exactly the same time, which is very difficult to make happen. But then the dealer is the arbiter. He shpuld immediately stop action and clarify what the bet is.
If you do allow the angler to make multiple action, even if you allow the victim to pick, you are ultimately allowing a string bet or potentially an anti string bet. So first action much be the ultimate action. And if he persists in attempting the angle, a discussion with the floor is in order and ultimately some time off if these actions don't stop.
To me it is the worst possible choice to allow or force the other player to have to police this kind of behavior. Running the game and enforcing the rules is the dealers role. Sure players can also help but they should not become the primary rules enforcers.
Once I was at a table with a couple of players having an mini ongoing rules war. The dealer was fairly new and knew that long ago I had dealt. She literally started to look at me to settle their tiffs and be the arbitrator. My response was .... really, nope, I don't get paid for that anymore and I am not entering that no win situation.