Lets Talk Prop Bets

Legendary poker player Jack Straus once said, "(poker) is hours of boredom punctuated by moments of terror," and as poker players we understand this sentiment. Good poker players understand the need to control their gambling nature and play smart, self-restrained poker. Unfortunately, even the most seasoned and self-controlled poker player can get reckless, impatient or just bored if the action isn't fast enough. In an effort to fill the gambling need at the poker table, players use prop bets.

Prop bets are side wagers between players that have no bearing on the actual outcome of a poker hand. The prop bet can be on cards appearing in the current game, last longer bets in tournaments and various other bets players can come up with to pass the time. In this post, I will examine two specific kinds of prop bets, the last longer bet and prop bets on actual cards in play during a game.

The last longer prop bet is quite simple, straight forward and often very fun! When two or more friends enter to play in a poker tournament the players decide an amount to wager. Once the tournament starts the last person to get eliminated from the tournament receives the wagered money. Other variations on this are odds to win the tournament prop bets, bracelet bets at the WSOP and also teams to see who can last longer. It is said that Phil Ivey stands to make as much or maybe more than the 2009 WSOP purse of $8.7 million if he can manager to win the WSOP Main Event in November. Supposedly, he has a bet with Andy Bloch where Phil took
99-1 odds on himself on a $20,000 prop bet, this bet alone could earn him a nice $2 million.

Prop bets on the actual cards in play can add a lot of excitement to any poker game but a few things must first be understood. First, most tournaments are slowed down by betting on cards in play, so it is often frowned upon to prop bet on cards in tournaments. Also, although not illegal most cardrooms will frown on prop bets, it is best to keep them on the down-low and record them during the game on paper and pay off after the playing is finished.

Specifically, their seem to be an endless number of prop bets you can devise, but here are a few of my favorite which pertain to texas hold'em. It only takes 2 players to play any of these props and the first order of business is to select the stakes. The first game I like to play is where 4 players each select a different suit of the cards, any time the flop comes with all 3 of any players suit, the player wins a bet from every person who is playing in the prop bet. Next, to add more interest players can select 3 specific cards such as (7-4-J, A-K-5 and so on) and when the flop comes with these three specific cards the player wins a bet. To add onto this game, anytime the flop comes with the highest of the selected cards as the middle card on the flop the player would win 2-times the bet. As you can see, any variation of these games can be played and can make a long, boring poker marathon much more fun and gambler friendsly. Now, the one golden and most important rule of poker prop bets during the game is you have to make sure the people who are playing the prop bets with you know when you hit! Thus, you have to notice and pick up on your win. If you miss your win it is called "sleepin" on the prop and you are not obligated to be paid because you missed the cards!

Now, take this information, go out to play some poker and liven up your play by using some prop bets during you next game! Just one word of warning, you will quickly be hooked on props!

Cadillac