Cash Game Video about dealing poker, tracking chips and bets- totally lost (1 Viewer)

[spellholly]

I found this great video on youtube but I am totally lost. I just cant seem to find a basic resource that deals with the basics of poker (not how to play or strategy either). I am so lost trying to understand about bet limits, buy in limits, re buy ins... as well as string raising (he mentions in this video)- casino commission (well I understand the concept, I just dont know how it works). But most specifically it seems like when someone try's to explain something about poker (betting) it is very esoteric there is no obvious place to start.

 

[Shaggy]

Try starting with specific questions regarding the areas where you have confusion. A vague question, like “so, how do you deal poker” or “what are the rules for betting in poker” may be a bit too vague. A more refined question like “what’s this string raise I’ve been hearing about” may help you sort out the details you are looking for.

 

[spellholly]

Try starting with specific questions regarding the areas where you have confusion. A vague question, like “so, how do you deal poker” or “what are the rules for betting in poker” may be a bit too vague. A more refined question like “what’s this string raise I’ve been hearing about” may help you sort out the details you are looking for.

Would you suggest then researching them on youtube?

 

[Shaggy]

Nope... ask your questions here.

 

[spellholly]

So I guess to start... Limits in a game there are 2. a low and a high- when are each used... like does the player have a choice when they are betting or does each round have a specific limit (from the 2) and thats the amount you bet. And to supplement that string betting- that is just a deviation from the limits right?

 

[Shaggy]

So if we are talking about Texas Hold’Em, there are two primary game types regarding betting.
1. No Limit
2. Limit

The answer to your question depends on whether we are playing Limit or No Limit.

If we are playing No Limit, the forced bets known as the small blind and big blind are made by the players to the left of the dealer. These bets are of a certain amount and basically define the stakes of the game. In tournaments, these blinds increase as the tournament proceeds. This is basically what causes players to be knocked out. Aside from the predefined blinds, all bets in No Limit can be any amount. There are rules regarding the minimum amount a raise can be once a bet is made... but that is a later question.

if we are playing Limit Hold’Em, the blinds still apply, but the size of the game is really driven by the fixed betting limits for each round of play. In Limit, preflop bets and after the flop bets are made in fixed increments. In my example we will assume the game is $2/$4 Limit Hold’Em. In this case, bets are made in $2 increments preflop and on the flop. Blinds are equal to 1/2 the small bet increment... so $1 and $2 for the $2/$4 game. Bets on the turn and river are made in $4 increments. Let’s say we’re on the turn and the first player places a bet... his only option is $4. The next player can either fold, call the $4, or raise to $8.

So are you interested in Limit or No Limit?

 

[Shaggy]

From your question, it sounds like you have been exposed to limit hold em.

Also, regarding string betting... that is basically a bet or a raise made in multiple actions. Example... in Limit Hold’Em... the first player places a $4 bet. The second player (without saying anything) places $4 onto the playing area of the table... then proceeds to place another $4 in front of him... with the intention of raising. This is a string bet (raise). The proper action is for the second player to place $8 in front if he intends to raise... or verbally announce “raise” before placing chips out front.

The language often used in movies like “I call your $20 and raise you another $100” is not proper poker action. The player stating that he calls, is the end of his action... any attempts beyond that is a string bet.

 

[Shaggy]

Here’s a good video explaining the betting of Limit Hold’Em

 

[Shaggy]

Here's a decent video illustrating a string bet:

 

[spellholly]

Here's a decent video illustrating a string bet:

Both these videos help a lot! The second one makes a lot of sense. For example I play a game, Magic The Gathering, and you have to declare certain things at certain times as to allow your opponent to fairly respond, so the second video really hit home the idea of betting, looking for a reaction then essentially making the decision. The first one really helped break down what the increments mean. I thought string was more along the lines of a fractional bet than an unfair bet that judges the reactions of others- so thanks for these!

 

[moose]

Here's a decent video illustrating a string bet:

Damn I always thought that betting with string was an option.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Damn I always thought that betting with string was an option.

No. It has to be an entire article of clothing. A shoelace does not count.

 

[RichMahogany]

No. It has to be an entire article of clothing. A shoelace does not count.

i prefer the term *shoestring betting. Mmmm, potatoes...

 

[CrazyEddie]

Here's a couple of Wikipedia articles that might help you get some background information:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betting_in_poker

Here is a page from the Pagat card games website that might help as well:

https://www.pagat.com/poker/rules/

If you have any questions about any of the details mentioned in those pages, or have questions that go beyond what they cover, please do ask your questions here. This forum is filled with knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly people ready to help you learn!

 

[CrazyEddie]

So I guess to start... Limits in a game there are 2. a low and a high- when are each used... like does the player have a choice when they are betting or does each round have a specific limit (from the 2) and thats the amount you bet.

Just to answer this specifically:

You'll see the stakes for a game listed or described as, for example, $1/$2. That can mean two different things depending on whether the game is a fixed-limit game (which would be called "one-two limit") or a no-limit game (which would be called "one-two no-limit").

In a no-limit game, the listed stakes are the blinds. The first number is the small blind and the second number is the big blind, these being the forced first and second bets by the first and second players in the first round of betting. Subsequent bets can be any size, up to the bettor's entire stack of chips.

In a fixed-limit game, the listed stakes are the bet sizes. The first number is called the small bet and is the bet size used in the first two betting rounds. The second number is called the big bet and is the bet size used in the last two betting rounds. Every bet or raise in fixed-limit games is always the same size, either the small bet or the big bet depending on which betting round it is. The exception is that at the start of the first round, the first player must post the small blind, which is a forced bet of half of the small bet. The next player must post the big blind, which is a forced bet of the full amount of the small bet.