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Credit Rules on Poker

The credit policy you have standardized with your poker buddies determines the health and longevity of your poker game. The advantages of using credit are increase of the betting pace and the inducement of higher stakes. A good player or a pro is usually the main source of credit because he is the consistent winner of the pot. Therefore, he has a major say on what a credit rule should be. One of which should be that all debts must be paid and accounted for before beginning a new game. No player can participate when owes money to any player from a previous game.

This credit policy should be the standing rule. This prevents any players from accumulating bad debts, which can put the game at a halt. The credit rule also helps the prevention of a loser from piling up his debts so that he quits the game because he'd rather avoid playing poker than come back and pay his debts. When a credit rule is in force, the player out of the game usually bounces back financially so he will be able to play again and settles his debts. But unfortunately, when he's up against the pros, he loses more. The credit rule for the pros is just one of the many tactics to get more money from the loser without hurting himself.

Besides preventing bad debts, the credit rules also have these advantages:

• It is a clear rule that enforces prompt payment and settlement of poker debts.
• It forces more money into the game that can equally mean more money for the good player to pocket away.
• It increases the chance for other players to lend money to provide more playable money for the loser.
• It detects players who would be in trouble with their personal finances.
• It prevents bankruptcies from occurring by booting out players before they pose serious damage to themselves and others.

Players can be flexible in applying the credit rule especially to wealthy, but heavily losing opponent so that they could avoid him quitting the game. But be careful, you should still weigh the advantages and long-term disadvantages of disregarding the credit rule in this case.

As much as possible, a good player doesn't borrow money, instead he writes a check. If he borrows money he can lose his influence in credit policies and by writing a check instead he sets an example of increasing the money at stake in the game. Checks are better off than accumulating a credit. Should you borrow, you should do so with a player who rarely borrows himself. Quite often, this player is a person who also rarely demands for a reciprocating loan.