Wizdar

Well, if ya aks me, the Bet Clock is when this show Jumped the Shark.

Patman

The bet clock was a bad idea. That's not poker.

Copenhagen

Yeah..they have done fine imo without it why add it now.

Deftones

I like the bet clock.

Patman

Poker is more like baseball, not basketball (with the shot clock).

Ralph Wiggum

The bet clock has to go.

FlashStash

Actually it *is* poker...it's always existed, but now it's more standardized. Here's Mike Sexton's take on it.


Inside Professional Poker
Mike Sexton



The World Poker Tour 'Action Clock'

When you watch the Travel Channel’s World Poker Tour Battle of Champions on NBC on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 1, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST), you will discover the World Poker Tour has taken another innovative step in changing tournament poker. The change is with a timing device called the “Action Clock,” which gives a player one minute to act on his hand or his hand is automatically folded.

I believe the WPT Action Clock is much better than the system we now use to deter slow play. Currently, we essentially go to an action clock after someone at the table thinks a player has taken more than a reasonable amount of time to act on his hand. That person asks the dealer to call for a floorperson to “put a clock on the player.” Once the floorperson reaches the table, the player gets one minute to act on his hand. If he fails to act in that minute, his hand is automatically folded.

There are several problems with the current system. First, the process takes too long. Second, most players don’t like calling the clock on someone else. In many instances, if you call a clock on someone, you make an enemy at the table. Some people who get the clock called on them take it personal and get offended. They also claim they didn’t take too long, that others take longer, and so on. To retaliate, they might then call the clock on the person who called it on them (or perhaps anyone else at the table) at every opportunity. All of this slows down the game and creates a bad atmosphere at the table.

The Action Clock eliminates the human element of fellow players having to request a clock. It doesn’t put anyone in an uncomfortable position of calling the clock on someone else. Most importantly, it speeds up play. This enables the tournament to get in more hands per level and makes the game more enjoyable and fun to play.

During the WPT’s Battle of Champions, the floorperson started giving warnings every 10 seconds with 30 seconds to go, and then started a countdown with five seconds to go. (Everyone likes drama on TV.) At the end of one minute, a red light came on, which meant the player’s hand was dead if he had not acted. In my opinion, this system could be improved by eliminating the floorperson from verbally counting down the clock. A yellow light could come on after 45 seconds and start flashing at 55 seconds, and then turn red at the end of one minute. Everything would be automated.

The WPT is succeeding in trying to make a sport out of tournament poker. Many sports have a clock to speed up play. There is a shot clock in basketball, a clock to get a play off in football, a clock in tennis for the amount of time that players can take between serves, a clock put on PGA golfers who play too slowly, and so on. Why shouldn’t poker have one, too?

There also could be some tweaks to the WPT Action Clock, such as being able to stop the clock for 10-15 seconds if you want a chip count on your opponent, getting more time if your opponent has gone all in or perhaps if you will be all in if you call, or utilizing some type of time bank (say, 60-90 seconds total) for players during a tournament. Although some players believe 90 seconds to act on your hand would be better, I believe one minute is plenty of time to act.

During the Battle of Champions, players were given a “time button,” which gave them a second minute to act on their hand if they needed more time to make a crucial decision. Players were told to simply pitch their time button into the pot prior to their time expiring, and they would be given an additional minute to act on their hand. This is something that could also be “standardized.”

Hats off to the WPT for this innovation. I love the Action Clock and vote a resounding “yes” on it. I believe it’s good for the game and would like to see it used in all tournaments.

FS

Groucho

I usually play poker online, where you are lucky if you get 10 seconds. 60 seconds would be a godsend.

Wizdar

Sexton is right about the rule.

Copenhagen is also right that WPT ain’t broke, so why fix it?

Of all the poker I’ve watched, I haven’t seen any situation where this would be a benefit to viewers except those who just want action action action.*

“It speeds up play.” Bullsh*t. There are very few times when it would be a factor. Lederer is a perfect example of a player who takes his time with just about every play, and one minute should be enough time. But consider that in addition to his thinking process, he now has to add “how much time do I have left?”

And then there’s the situation where Ron Rose was trying to get a chip count – how many chips are at risk is part of the game, and counting the chips should not be part of the time allowed for him to make a decision.

This “rule” is designed for general cardroom play. Until fairly recently, that pretty much excludes “No Limit” competition. As such, I have no problem with a shot clock in limit poker.

Bottom line is that Mike Sexton is one voice among many. And I’ll bet I know where a majority of players would like the clock shoved.




*One comment from United Poker Forum: “I thought it was pretty cool…I dont know maybe its cause im a basketball fan.”

Patman

When there's this much money at stake, the 1 minute bet clock is a bad idea.

There does need to be a pause while a chip count is asked for when the other player has gone all in.

chowderhead

I thought it was strange to have the clock. I guess it was done for added suspense. I thought this stuff was all previously recorded and edited for time and content. I could care less how long they take to think about their decisions as long as it is edited later.

boobietheclown

The shows recorded. You think they could just edit "dead" time out if they wanted to. The clock seems a little cheezy.

Wizdar

Maybe Sexton is just now finding out that he’s running out of witty things to say whilst players are making up their minds. During the entire time that the clock is running, all he has to do is comment on how many seconds are left. Hell, even VVP on a bad hair day can do that.

Charlie Goose

I can understand the need for a bet clock during regular play. During no-limit tournaments, I vote no. I could've also done without the digital beeps as the timer goes below ten seconds and the lights going out as time expires. I don't see Chuck Woolery around, so I'm fairly certain it ain't a game show.

Some good hands. I thought Lederer was going to pass out when Jose caught a third eight on the river. Jose's trainer was in the crowd bellowing, "Ocho!". I pegged Juha to win. That guy has excellent instincts, and shows nothing.

garolo

I missed the end. Who won?

Patman

Rose did.

Copenhagen

I wonder if he leaves poker now as he elluded to the possibility if he won the tourney.

Autotelik

Don't forget folks, the new WPT season starts this Wednesday night.

Copenhagen

I can't wait

Rypro 525

sorry idiot me, what channel, nbc, bravo, espn? And these events aren't live right?

Autotelik

WPT on Travel Channel. I don't think they're live. But they're on Wednesday nights, with replay on Saturday afternoons.

World Series of Poker is on ESPN(2?), but not sure when the new season for that is. All I keep seeing is Phil Ivey's full house getting beat out on the river by Moneymaker's full house. Damn that one hurts!

FlashStash

Definitely not live...what you're seeing is 2-3 days worth of play edited down into a 2 hour show.

FS

Morf

One thing that has to change is the freakin font sizes they use to show hole cards, bets, etc. They were mush bigger last season, but now they are so small and hard to read. I have a hard time telling a spade from a club.

Wizdar

No, none of this is live.

Tomorrow’s event was done a coupla months ago at my favorite L.A. casino.

I’m looking forward to seeing T. .J. Cloutier play some more. He’s an odd one – an obviously respected name (and ranked among the top 10 players), but he doesn’t seem to do well when he hits the final table.

The WSoP event you’re seeing on ESPN/2 is normally held about a month from now, so it’s almost a year old. The WPT events are completely unrelated.

Haven’t heard anything about the fate of the WSoP.

I agree about the graphics. I can’t tell a spade from a club very easily either. But there’s no room for improvement: they blew their budget on the shot clock and flashy-light thingies.