Small Blind Verbal Declaration

[KDOpop100]

I deal at a poker club in Portland Oregon and was watching a game between downs. The game was 9 handed with blinds at 300-600. Action folds around to the small blind who declares "3,200 more" and proceeded to put 3,500 in the pot. The dealer forced the player to compete the small blind from 300 to 600 and then add 3,200 for a total of 3,800. Is that correct? My thought is that the small blind is in the pot for 300 and declaring "3,200 more" would make him responsible for putting 3,500 in the pot. Thanks for any insight.

[Nick C]

KDOpop100,

Welcome to the forum!

If I were dealing I would have told the small blind that it was 300 to call the big blind, so I definitely would consider the 3200 raise to a total of 3800.

There are many times, through my years of dealing, when players do not clarify their intent. Happens all the time. Player A bets 100, Player B says "raise, 300." My advice is to stop any further action and get clarification because sometimes the player's intent is actually a total bet of the spoken amount. I hope I'm clear on this. My reasoning is to prevent an unnecessary delay caused by an unclear verbal bet.

Technically, saying raise 300 should translate to 300 more than the amount required for a call but, believe me, the pause between raise and the spoken amount might not be  the intended amount.

Player's must make their intentions clear.

Hope this helps.

[Stuart Murray]

"3,200 more" from any position when facing a bet of 600 (The Big Blind) is 3,800 total, the dealer made the correct call IMHO and I would of ruled the same.

Regards
Stuart

[Tristan]

Yep, exactly what those two said!

Think about it this way, if the player was on the button and said 3,200 more, there would be no question that he meant 3,800. 

3,200 more (than the current bet).