One Chip All In
04-12-2017
, 04:22 PM
04-14-2017
, 01:54 PM
Quote:
Yes, actually I've got a couple hands in Exploiting Poker Tells that talk about this pattern. Players who make big bets and only put in one chip or a small amount of chips are more likely to have a strong hand. (This is especially the case post-flop when hand strength is more defined and players are more certain about where they are.)
The main reason behind this is that bluffers don't want to have their bets misunderstood. They don't want to, for example, put in a single stack (out of several stacks) and have their opponent call and claim they misunderstood. Or throw in a single chip and risk an opponent (who might be not paying attention or listening to music) calling the single chip.
Another factor here is how ambiguous the 'one chip all-in' or 'one stack all-in' could be perceived. If it's super obvious what the player has done--like if they announced "I"m going all-in" very clearly and loudly, this is less likely to hold true to the pattern. But if they just softly mumbled "All-in" and threw in a chip, it becomes more likely it's adhering to the pattern and likely to be a strong hand.
Basically, just remember that bluffers will not want their bet to be misperceived. (Another example of this kind of clue; players who shove but position some large chips behind other chips from the point of view of opponent.)
Main caveat to remember is that pre-flop, players are more ambivalent (because there are many cards to come) and are quite capable of doing these kinds of things with quite weak hands.
The main reason behind this is that bluffers don't want to have their bets misunderstood. They don't want to, for example, put in a single stack (out of several stacks) and have their opponent call and claim they misunderstood. Or throw in a single chip and risk an opponent (who might be not paying attention or listening to music) calling the single chip.
Another factor here is how ambiguous the 'one chip all-in' or 'one stack all-in' could be perceived. If it's super obvious what the player has done--like if they announced "I"m going all-in" very clearly and loudly, this is less likely to hold true to the pattern. But if they just softly mumbled "All-in" and threw in a chip, it becomes more likely it's adhering to the pattern and likely to be a strong hand.
Basically, just remember that bluffers will not want their bet to be misperceived. (Another example of this kind of clue; players who shove but position some large chips behind other chips from the point of view of opponent.)
Main caveat to remember is that pre-flop, players are more ambivalent (because there are many cards to come) and are quite capable of doing these kinds of things with quite weak hands.
