Poker Tip #3: How to bet

This post is strictly limited to the mechanics of how to place a bet.  Basic betting strategy, including how much is the right amount to bet, will be covered in Poker Tip #4.

When it is your turn, the option is yours, depending on the situation, to fold, open with a bet, call an existing bet, or raise. 

Folding:

Folding is easy.  All I can say is fold your cards to where the dealer can reach them.  And do not expose your cards if the hand is still being contested. 

I was sitting in a seat away from the dealer in a game at Foxwoods, and had gotten into the habit of folding my cards with a light toss or slide precisely into the dealer's muck pile.  An opponent said, "you're really good at folding", meaning he liked how I tossed the cards and that they ended up in the right spot.  My reply was, "thank you, I've had a lot of practice". 

If you play a lot of casino poker, it's not as exciting all the time as it looks on tv (they edit the footage).  Be prepared to do a lot of folding and waiting to be selectively aggressive.   

What constitutes a betting action:

Different casinos and dealers have different rules.  Generally, if you release chips past your cards or the betting line circling the table, it is considered a bet.  When making a bet, call, or raise, there are a few ways to do it properly. 

Bets should be made in front of the player and ahead of the player's "capped" cards.  Place the chips ahead of the betting line circling the table, if one exists.  That will constitute a bet and the dealer can easily reach the chips. Occasionally players set chips out ahead of their cards to count them, without realizing that it can be considered a bet. 

Any verbal declaration, such as "call" or "all in" is binding.

When placing a bet, do not confuse your current bet with money already in the pot.  People do this sometimes in home games.
 

Betting and calling:

1.  Verbally declare "I bet" or "call" when it is your turn to act.  Then go to your chip stack to get the amount you want to bet or call.  If you do not have the exact amount in chips, the dealer will make change.  I keep track in case the dealer gets distracted and does not return my change after raking the pot.

2.  Simply put the amount of the bet or call into the pot without saying a word.  An "overchip" (single chip of greater value than the bet) is considered a call unless it is declared a raise by the player.  So, if the bet is $30 and I simply place a $100 chip out without declaring a raise, it is considered a call.
 

Raising:

1.  Verbally declare “raise”, then put out the amount to cover the previous bet and what you decide to raise in one motion.

2.  Don’t say a word, just put out chips equal to the amount of the previous bet and your raise in one motion.  Least preferred because sometimes the dealer and other players don’t notice you’ve raised, yet some people do it.

3.  Verbally declare “raise“.  In one motion, put out the previous bet.  In one additional motion, put out the amount you choose to raise.

4.  Verbally declare “raise” and verbally declare the amount of the raise or the total bet.  Take as many motions as necessary to count out and put your chips in the pot. 

So, if you're opening with a bet, or making a call, it is fine just to put the proper amount out  If you decide to raise, verbally declaring your intentions helps keep the game going because the dealer and other players know exactly what you're doing. 

String bets:

String bets, bets where a player does not make all of the intended bet in one statement or motion, are not permitted in most settings.  They are often accidental, but deceive opponents as to the player's intent, and can be used to gather tells. 

Examples are to say "I call your bet, and raise you $20", or betting in multiple motions.  The dealer will probably rule that you called the original bet and can not raise. 

As with my tip about protecting your hand, watch how players place their bets in a casino or on tv, and you'll see what I mean.

Also, don't splash the pot.  The punishment is you'll probably have to endure some bad Rounders impressions.