Verbal Declaration
A verbal declaration is something you say out loud about your action, such as 'raise' or 'call'. In live poker, it is binding, so you cannot change your mind after saying it.
The simple explanation
If you say 'raise to 50', the dealer treats it as a raise to 50, even if you have not put the chips in yet. The same is true for 'fold' and 'call'. Say it only when you mean it.
A closer look
Verbal declarations have priority over actions in most rooms: the words decide what you did. This protects the other players from confusion. Declare clearly, and do not say anything misleading, such as 'I might raise', since in some rooms that is also treated as a statement. If you are not sure whether a statement is binding, ask the floor. Speaking out of turn can also cause problems.
A practical example
A player says 'I raise to 60' without putting out chips. The dealer rules that the raise to 60 stands.
Full explanation
A verbal declaration is something you say out loud about your action, such as ‘raise’ or ‘call’. In live poker, it is binding, so you cannot change your mind after saying it.
A verbal declaration is a spoken action.
It is binding in live poker.
It usually has priority over chips.
Speak only when you mean it.
Declare the raise before moving chips
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The flop pot is 12. A verbal declaration in turn fixes the announced action.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
The flop pot is 12. A verbal declaration in turn fixes the announced action.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 22 chips
B bets 10.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 184 · In this round 10
- Flop · Pot: 52 chips
Before moving chips, A says “raise to 30” in turn. The verbal declaration commits A to that total wager; B now faces 20 more.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 164 · In this round 30
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 184 · In this round 10
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.