Implementing the full bet rule
After the recent controversy around the details of all-in raises and how they affect the option to re-raise, we need to formally adopt an HGPA position on this matter.
The position that most people seemed to advance was that we should formally adopt the “full bet rule” for all-in raises.
The common description of how this rule works is as follows:
If a player goes all in with a bet or raise rather than a call, another special rule comes into play. No-limit games usually use what is called the full bet rule. The full bet rule states that if the amount of an all-in bet is less than the minimum bet, or if the amount of an all-in raise is less than the full amount of the previous raise, it does not constitute a “real” raise, and therefore does not reopen the betting action.
For example, with the full bet rule in effect, a player opens the betting round for $20, and the next player has a total stake of $30. He may raise to $30, declaring himself all in, but this does not constitute a “real” raise, in the following sense: if a third player now calls the $30, and the first player’s turn to act comes up, he may now call the additional $10, but he does not have the right to re-raise further. The all-in player’s pseudo-raise was really just a call with some extra money, and the third player’s call was just a call, so the initial opener’s bet was simply called by both remaining players, closing the betting round (even though he must still equalize the money by putting in the additional $10).
If we can get a simple majority in favour of formally adopting this rule then it will be added to the Etiquette page as one of the standard HGPA rules.
Filed under: Administrivia
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