Counting the pot

[[Phill]]

I can glance at a stack or pile and get a pretty close approximation without counting.

Plus there is always the fool proof method of asking the dealer how much is in the pot.

I dont think ive ever calculated a pot size raise on my own, im happy to say that i want to bet pot and then get a figure called out to me. In return i dont give the dealers [censored] like the usual degen regulars in my local game.

[MttKnx]

The dealer usually announces the # of players before dealing the flop, turn, & river (they actually do this for themselves so they can easily calculate the rake). Multipy that number by the last called bet.

[Split Suit]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
if im playin LO8 i keep track of how many BBs in the pot by makin a pile of chips near my left hand. so ppl dont realize what im doin, i shuffle these chips, and just add as necessary. it helps quite a bit if im not payyin attention to everything...

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats not a bad idea...just hope you never get short stacked and run out of chips to count BBs.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol...im the kid that buys in for rediculous ammounts (like 400 in a 4/8 game). i generally dont have to worry about gettin short, lol

[AKQJ10]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been amazed by dealers that can come back with the size of the bet when someone says I bet the pot, which does not necessarily have to be a pot limit game.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe under standard rules, "I bet the pot," is not a valid utterance in anything but a PL game. If someone says that in an NL game, I believe it's construed as the same as, "Bet," meaning they need to either state a size or place a given number of chips out as a bet.

Your point about the dead money is somewhat valid. Count the dead money as people fold, then add it to the number of people in the hand * bet size at the end of each round.

I can appreciate your mind wandering, but learning to focus on these basics will pay dividends as you also learn to focus on other details worthy of observation such as your opponents' betting motions, etc.

[ChrisRock]

[ QUOTE ]

I believe under standard rules, "I bet the pot," is not a valid utterance in anything but a PL game. If someone says that in an NL game, I believe it's construed as the same as, "Bet," meaning they need to either state a size or place a given number of chips out as a bet.

Your point about the dead money is somewhat valid. Count the dead money as people fold, then add it to the number of people in the hand * bet size at the end of each round.

I can appreciate your mind wandering, but learning to focus on these basics will pay dividends as you also learn to focus on other details worthy of observation such as your opponents' betting motions, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've heard, "pot," in a NL game, but I've yet to hear the dealer come back with, "please state your bet." I guess its just natural for a good dealer to have a handle on the pot size. I don't know if dealers have an extra trick or two to help them come back with the amount that should be bet if a player bets pot.

Additionally, I'm not trying to say that my mind wanders. Quite the contrary, in fact as I am trying to catch tells and read mannerisms while at the same time attempting to put each person on a hand by replaying their actions from preflop through river. All this is done whether or not I am actually in the hand. As this is the case, I cannot at the same time, count the pot.

[AKQJ10]

Based on what you say, and my understanding from this forum, that sounds like a non-standard reaction by the dealer. A NL player shouldn't be able to "bet the pot" except by explicitly volunteering an amount that happens to be the same as the amount in the pot. By helping such a player out in a non-PL, the dealer is overstepping his job boundaries. At least that's my understanding from accumulated 2+2 wisdom.

[ontiltsince82]

I thought that it was a pretty standard rule that in no limit the pot should never be counted by the dealer or stacked in a manner to make it simple to count.

[ChrisRock]

It may be that casino dealers rotate in such a manner that some deal NL, limit, or PL in their rotations. In my case, our game is half NLHE, half PLO, so the dealers are well versed in both. Now that you mention it, I have heard somewhere that the pot should never be counted by the dealer. I don't know if this is fact or fiction although they do have to keep track of the last round at least for the rake. If the money isn't dropped until the hand is done, you can count the dollars and multiply by 20 for an approximation as well. This estimation could be +/-10 or so.

[GTL]

if you're just worried about knowing the pot size when someone bets the pot just ask the dealer how much to call. he will tell you a number which is equal to the betsize. the pot will have the same amount as the bet. otherwise, practice a little.

[TheStation]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought that it was a pretty standard rule that in no limit the pot should never be counted by the dealer or stacked in a manner to make it simple to count.

[/ QUOTE ]

From my knowledge this is true, I have came off as a real nit as of late when going after the dealers for counting the pot in the NL games I have been in. I have had a few converstaions with floor people and dealers and it should be corrected now but it still bothers me. Mainly becuase a couple maniacs decided to not pay any attention to the game and just say pot randomly and I couldnt get the best of it.