Forward Motion
Forward motion is a house rule saying that when a player moves chips toward the pot with the intention to bet, they are committed to that action and cannot take the chips back. The rule helps to prevent players from changing their mind after seeing the reaction of others.
The simple explanation
Suppose it is your turn and you pick up some chips and push them forward. In a room that uses forward motion, you cannot pull them back to check or fold. You must at least call. You can still choose whether to call or to raise.
A closer look
The rule protects against angle shooting, where a player pretends to bet to see how the opponent reacts, and then withdraws. It is similar to the rule against string betting, which stops a player from adding chips to a bet in several movements. Rules differ by room, and some rooms apply forward motion only to chips that have crossed a line, so always ask the floor if you are unsure.
A practical example
Ron picks up a stack of chips and moves his hand toward the pot. The dealer rules that Ron is committed to betting under the forward motion rule.
Full explanation
Forward motion is a house rule saying that when a player moves chips toward the pot with the intention to bet, they are committed to that action and cannot take the chips back. The rule helps to prevent players from changing their mind after seeing the reaction of others.
Forward motion means that moving chips toward the pot commits the player to a bet or a call.
The rule is meant to stop players from changing their minds after seeing the other players’ reactions.
Players who have started moving their chips can still decide how much to bet, or whether to raise.
The exact rule depends on the poker room, so ask the dealer or floor when in doubt.