Etiquette Question

[Mr F]

Ok, I need a bit of clarification this one.

If there is a person all-in with three or more people still in the hand who are not all-in, what's the deal with the remaining people betting?  Is it bad etiquette?  If so why? 

Have read various bits about this and want to know what the "correct" thing to do is.

Thanks

[matt674]

many people say that its an "unwritten rule" for the players remaining in the pot to check the hand down to a showdown in an attempt to knock out the short stack - especially if it means that the remaining players now have made it into the money.

Me personally if i'm one of the people who is still involved in the pot and i think i have the best hand then i bet - i'm not giving free cards to whoever else is still involved in the pot so that they can win it..................

[Rod Paradise]

many people say that its an "unwritten rule" for the players remaining in the pot to check the hand down to a showdown in an attempt to knock out the short stack - especially if it means that the remaining players now have made it into the money.

Me personally if i'm one of the people who is still involved in the pot and i think i have the best hand then i bet - i'm not giving free cards to whoever else is still involved in the pot so that they can win it..................

 

Also there are people who will glare at you for betting, but in a similar situation when they hit their flush/straight whatever - will pile in a bet. Play every hand for yourself to win.... BUT I wouldn't normally bluff in this situation, if you bluff someone else off, then lose, you get nothing, they get nothing & the short stack stays in, so it's a bad move.

[thetank]

If it's right on the quite large bubble of a satelite or something then I can understand a player getting upset if he gets bet into.

People take it to ridiculous extremes though. Thinking that when a player is all-in any stage of the tournament, betting anything but the nuts is unacceptable, and then only on the river.

If I have top pair, I'll bet it. A player might grumble as he folds his draw, especially if the all-in player hits two pair. Most of the time though, I'll protect my hand and take down the whole pot.

Other times, there might be a substantial side pot. I'll often bluff at this if I'm chipped up on the bubble as my opponent can't really call me without a lock. He'll see my hand and get upset, but I'm only playing my stack. The amount I have to gain, being chipped up, from eliminating the bubble boy is far less than my opponent with less chips. Often times, I'm better taking down the side pot and letting the all-in player triple up than implicility colluding to eliminate him.

A lot of the time, it's correct to check something down. If a player wants to semi-bluf a dry side pot with a flush draw then I'll never berate them. Telling someone else how to bet or how they should have bet is the only thing that is bad etiquette here IMO.

[thetank]

It's a misunderstood concept, but you can use it to your advantage sometimes. The possibility of getting 5 board cards for free sometimes makes it correct to play marginal hands that you wouldn't otherwise play.

For example, there's a raise to 4 times the big blind and the small blind goes all-in for about that amount. You're in the big blind with KJo. Normally, you wouldn't like to play such a hand as you'll lose a lot of chips if the wrong card hits. Here a call may be correct if you think your opponent will  check it down for you.

[jezza777]

bluffing into a dry side pot is not bad etiquette but is is silly. Remeber they are your cards and your chips so do what you want as far as betting or raising goes. The notion that checking down a pot to eliminate the allin player is always the correct strategy is plain wrong. If you have a hand then bet it.

[Mr F]

Thanks Guys, jsut wanted to try and minimize the amount of abuse i get at the table.  

Have seen it go both ways, have seen people check it down and others bet so wanted to know what the majority thought.  Actually saw someone bet at the bash when someone was all in and someone objected to it.  

[matt674]

If it's right on the quite large bubble of a satelite or something the I can understand a player getting upset if he gets bet into.

i agree, if we are playing a satellite where all the prizes are the same then i will check it down to try and eliminate my opponent. If its a regular tournament however then i wont.

I will never make a complete bluff at a pot where there is a player all in unless there is a side pot worthy of me making that bluff.

[Trace]

Your chips, your money, sod etiquette do what the hell you like!!