What Is A String Bet In Poker?
Written by
Joe - Poker PlayerLast updated:
January 1, 2024
People who are used to online poker may find it intimidating to play live poker because playing live requires knowledge of correct rules and etiquette for how players should bet correctly, how to behave when betting, when in a hand, when not in a hand, and how to treat other players. While playing online, you click a button, and your money transfers into the pot. But when you play live poker, you must follow rules that are designed to ensure that gameplay follows a standard, systematic, and fair approach to prevent possible exploitations in one way or another. A string bet is a motion or action that is prohibited by poker rules and counts as an illegal bet. But what is string betting? Why is it illegal? How should you avoid unintentional ones?
Read on to find the answer to the above questions and more about string betting!
What Does String Betting Mean In Poker?
Simply, string betting is when you take a certain amount of chips, immediately go back and grab some more, and place them on top of the previous ones. Players are allowed to bet on any street of action in all poker variants, of course, following the rules of the game. But when you play live poker, not only the amount of money that you put into the pot matter but the way you put it into the middle also matters.
A string bet refers to a bet or raise in which you pull all your desired amount of chips into the pot in multiple motions instead of one.
Real-Life Example of String Betting
Suppose you are playing a $1/$2 live No Limit Texas Hold’em at a table along with another player. It is river stage, the pot is $200, and it is your turn to act. Two standard stacks of $100 each are remaining for you. In other words, you are left with two sets of 20 $5 chips. You decide to go all-in eventually but put $100 stacks one at a time instead of both at the same time. It is a classic example of string betting. In this scenario, the only valid bet for you will be the first $100 stack that you put into the put with your first forward movement.
3 Most Common Types Of String Bets In Poker
String betting and string bets have many different forms in poker. Some are penalized by the casinos, while some may be treated less strictly. Still, all forms of string betting are illegal, and you must learn to avoid them intentionally and unintentionally.
1. The Reach-Back String Bet
Remember the previous example? It is a classic example of string bet and the most common one, which is known as the reach-back. Whenever a player puts his desired amount of chips in two or more forward motions instead of a single motion, it is called a Reach-Back String bet. Another case that is considered a reach-back is when you don’t announce a raise beforehand. First, you put your call stack. Then, you add more chips on top. In this scenario, your action will not be considered a raise and it will be a call.
2. Verbal String Bet
If you are a Hollywood fan, you have seen this string bet a lot in the movies. It is the movie cliché where the villain says: I’ll call your $1,000(throws in $1,000 chip), and I raise you $5,000! This doesn’t happen in real life because it is against the rules. No player can declare a call and follow with a raise. So, when you say call, it will be a call regardless of what you say or do afterward.
3. The Drop-Down String Bet
This one is when you grab and hold a stack of chips and, one by one drop them onto the pot. In this scenario, only the first chip or number of chips that landed simultaneously is considered a valid bet. There are other types of string betting, like Double-Wrist and Peel-Off, which you may encounter while playing live poker.
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How To Avoid String Betting: The Correct Poker Chip Etiquette
The one and only remedy for avoiding string betting is to practice verbal binding.
Verbally announce your bet(call/raise) and put the corresponding chips into the pot with a single motion.
You can say raise $10,000 or just $10,000 and then take your time counting your chips and putting them out one at a time. When you declare your bet before making any move, it allows you to make unlimited back-and-forth moves while putting your chips into the pot.
Why String Bet Is Illegal In Any Form?
Poker rules state that string betting is illegal in any form in any live poker variation. There is a strong reason for this prohibition: In the split second that a player is placing the first amount of chips, they can get a quick gauge of how everybody else at the table reacts and then up their batch based on those reactions.
String Betting Tips For Dummies
Here are the tips, dos, and don’ts of string betting in poker.
- Place the amount of chips you want to call or raise in a single motion.
- Verbalize your bet. To avoid even accidental string bets, make sure to verbally announce the amount you want to bet or raise.
- Know the casino rules. All forms of string betting are prohibited by all casinos. Still, some forms of string betting may be treated less aggressively. So, familiarize yourself with the rules before sitting at the oval table.
- In the case of larger stakes games or deep stack tournaments where you should make large bets relative to the denominations of chips that you have in front of you, make sure to plan ahead and calculate how you are going to make your bets.
- If you verbalize your betting amount, make sure to keep your tone and the way you say it the same to avoid possible tells that would signal your hand strength.
Wrap-Up: Should You Avoid String Betting In Poker?
The answer is a resounding yes! The practice of string betting is illegal by the poker rules and code of conduct regardless of where you play live and which variant you take part in. So, the bottom line is, if you string bet, even if by accident, just know that everyone will call you out. Your neighbor will call you out, your grandmother will call you out, the dealer will call you out, and probably the dog that is outside the casino will also call you out!
Don’t String Bet!
String Bet In Poker FAQs
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What Should You Do When A Player String Bets In Poker?
Typically, the dealer will catch the player who is string betting. But if you believe they missed it, you can alert the dealer or floorman to resolve disputes.
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How Novice Poker Players Can Avoid Accidental String Betting?
String bets are more common among less experienced poker players. The best solution is to practice verbalizing the amount of bet they want to put into the middle.
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Are String Bets Illegal In Online Poker?
String betting applies to live poker, and the concept is irrelevant to online poker.
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What Is The String Bet Rule?
The rule against string bets and raises states that you must either declare the amount of your bet or make the bet in a single motion without stopping or hesitating during the betting process.
