Is "cute betting" a tell?

Snarf · #1 01-06-2006, 11:19 PM

We've all seen it. (though maybe not that often)

* You have 1,000 in chips - guy raises you to 997.

* The pot is T625 large - guy bets 624

* blinds are 10/20 - guy raises to 62
* You bet out 200 into a 300 pot. Guy raises you 205 chips more.
* in a limped blind battle - the SB bets out the 1.2x the min bet

etc....

Should I be reading these bets as playfulness and thus tending towards a stronger hand?

What do you think? Have I been missing this betting style tell? (Assuming this player doesn't normally bet like this)

AaronBrown · #2 01-06-2006, 11:45 PM

Cute betting usually means a strong hand. It falls into the category of being mildly irritating to encourage someone to call you out of annoyance. It's different if done by someone pretending to be stupid or unserious, or someone pretending to be a deep thinking calculated each bet to the penny.

It's not a common deceptive play so unless someone does it more than once, or seems like someone who would choose an offbeat deception, it's probably accurate.

londomollari · #3 01-06-2006, 11:50 PM

When I do it, it's usually because I made a typo and I'm happy enough with the current bet size [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img].
I doubt it's worth much as a tell, would only consider it when I'm borderline folding anyway.

AaronBrown · #4 01-06-2006, 11:57 PM

I didn't think of this, I was thinking of live play. That means you have to count out the chips, which is a deliberate action, and you force the other guy to count out as well. On line, it could be a typo, as you say, or it could be whim. It's no more trouble, so I agree it probably doesn't mean much.

Nut4Dawgs · #5 01-07-2006, 12:19 AM

Don't worry about it. If you've got the hand to call with, what does it matter what he bet? Raise him and get his last chip. If you can't call, fold and let him be happy in his little mind. Then bust him later.

Snarf · #6 01-07-2006, 12:30 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Don't worry about it. If you've got the hand to call with, what does it matter what he bet? Raise him and get his last chip. If you can't call, fold and let him be happy in his little mind. Then bust him later.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just a curiousity thing really...

I noticed lately that I was betting "cutely" with decent hands. It seemed to encourage callers (low limits) oddly enough.

It got me thinking about it.

Banks2334 · #7 01-07-2006, 02:32 AM

Yes. I'd guess about 80% of the time its a strong hand. The other 20% is either a typo or a donkey.

UATrewqaz · #8 01-07-2006, 03:17 AM

I read in a book once that betting odd amounts confuses your opponents and they are more apt to call out of curiosity, thinking your up to something.

Don't know if that's true or not, I report, you decide.

JoshuaD · #9 01-07-2006, 04:17 AM

[ QUOTE ]
When I do it, it's usually because I made a typo and I'm happy enough with the current bet size [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img].
I doubt it's worth much as a tell, would only consider it when I'm borderline folding anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

Quoted for truth. Don't read too much into it.

mshalen · #10 01-07-2006, 07:59 AM

The question to ask is "is this a one time occurance or does my opponent consistantly do this?". Last week I was is the same position as the OP when a player was betting strange amounts. This first and second times I saw this I assumed it was done to get me to bet/call. After I observed this action numerous time I realized he couldn't have that many great hands and it was probably just a quirk. He ended up being moved from the table before I saw him show down a hand but I did slip a note into his permanent file.