How long is too long?
I have heard, more than once, this type of complaint made about me. "Enough, make a decision", "it's two cards not a book", "quit slowing things down".
I know that some of that is just needles to get me off my game but it is true that I am likely to take anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes on a decision. I rarely ever make an insta-play. It's always at least 5-10 seconds. My reason for ding this is mostly for the sake of keeping my play deliberate. Of course a tangential benefit is that it annoys my opponents and sometimes will knock them off their game (though that is not my main goal). I'd like to know your opinions on how long is too long and under what circumstances would you actually call a clock on someone in tournament play.
I know that some of that is just needles to get me off my game but it is true that I am likely to take anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes on a decision. I rarely ever make an insta-play. It's always at least 5-10 seconds. My reason for ding this is mostly for the sake of keeping my play deliberate. Of course a tangential benefit is that it annoys my opponents and sometimes will knock them off their game (though that is not my main goal). I'd like to know your opinions on how long is too long and under what circumstances would you actually call a clock on someone in tournament play.
Comments
5 minutes is too long.
I have no problem with people wanting to think things through, as I often will myself. However, let's face it, there are some instances (the majority actually) where you know instantly what you're going to do.... "Oh, raise, re-raise allin in front of me? Hrm... should I call with 92o?" The occasional "tanking" is fine, but when it's EVERY decision... that gets irritating.
This fella that I refer to, I was talking with another forumer present during a break after we had both simultaneously called clock on him... this is not something I do very often, but both of us forumers had the same thought process...
"Gee, it's been a while he's been thinking.. I'll call clock in 30 more seconds"
"30 seconds - "CLOCK"".
It's poor etiquette to drag out decisions, but nobody's going to (should) fault you in a big hand situation... as long as you've not been doing it constantly. I especially get frustrated in situations when time is a factor (i.e. tournament's rising blind structure).
Mark
I don't care HOW rarely you tank.. I would call clock on you well before you got to 5 minutes.... 2-3 mins is a long time, 5 minutes I've heard of, but it's a little ridiculous.
Mark
I have been at a table with someone like this and it didn't put me off my game but it did slow the game down and prevent me (and him) from making any real money, so it was a real pleasure when he busted out.
He's here all week..try the veal
If you took that long at my table on every decision I would straight-up punch you in the ovary
On the other hand, the "time" rule can be abused at times by spiteful players whom previously lost a big pot to the player who is now getting time called on them. This has happened to me before, where a guy was clearly calling time too fast on me out of spite for stacking him w/ AA vs his KK. I rarely ever get called time, & hadn't taken any significant amount of time for any decisions that day.
IMO, instead of there being no clear guidelines & being left completely to interpretation as to what constitutes too much time, maybe they should set a limit of 2.5 mins per decision. I have seen dealers allow time to be called too quickly, & in other cases, not allowing time to be called even after a big amount of time has passed. Some form of standard would be good & fair, if possible.
This is also poor etiquette. I don't think you can call CLOCK if you're in the hand.
Juggling: One minute should be plenty of time to make a play. Anything above, ask the table for more time.
Why can't you call clock if you are in the hand? If no-one else has the guts to make the person taking forever hurry up a bit, you shouldn't have to wait 5 minutes.
And your bottom point is an excellent one, if you are polite about it and mention this is a tough decision and need a little more time, I'll back right off.
If yer at the WSOP final table, hey.. take the 30 minutes or whatever.
If you are playing nickle holdem with grandma and you take more than 1 second, it's too much.
I play a few places. 2 of them anybody can call clock. At the other one you have to be in the hand to call clock.
and yes, it is poor etiquette, that's why I only do it to friends as a joke.
taking your time to create the illusion of consistent play = fine
taking your time on every hand = getting punched in the face eventually
You could always say things like, "geeze, someone call the clock on this guy" and maybe someone in the hand will pick up on it
stp
Unrelated to op: Mark I think you should have taken more time before calling with your KK against Diddy's 666. Did you replay how the hand went down before calling?
Thank you very much!