Running down the clock on every hand: "timebank trolling" or meaningful strategy?

[Pokerpoet2]

The timebank is there to give us a chance to think about our next move in a tough hand, but we've seen players who take a bad beat then immediately start running down their timebanks on every single hand to intentionally impede the flow of the game and "take revenge" on the other players at the table.

At the same time, some players argue that they want to make sure that they don't give off tells based on how long it takes them to act. Therefore, they want to make sure that they take the same amount of time on each hand and since they might need more time on some hands, they will take maximum time every single time it's their turn to act so that their actions are consistent.

I've seen both scenarios play out at times in games where there is no reason to slow down play and hope someone else busts on the bubble, so what do you think? Is intentionally using maximum time on every hand a viable strategy to avoid giving off tells, or is it just "timebank trolling" to be disruptive and try to get others at the table to go on tilt? Do you think that this behavior should be considered bad conduct to the same level as angle shooting?

It's pretty pointless using your timebank in Single table games, as you cannot hide On-line tells using that tactic, Personally I look for Betting amounts and if players Raise pre-flop then come out betting after the flop which is basic theory anyway, in most schools of thought, i.e. You raise before the flop, you generally have to bet after the flop regardless if you hit or miss, but it is pointless as there is only one table of players to beat, so nothing gained from Timebank Tanking.

In Tournaments However using your Timebank on every hand can lead you to ladder up the Table, without playing a hand, simply because if you get two or more players who have more chips than yourself, battling it out to a point where they are all in, then the difference could mean 1 player just increases his lead while the others are either eliminated from the Tournament or has fewer chips than yourself, Either way you can climb the ladder without getting involved.

Is it bad etiquette to use the Timebank this way? I don't consider it being so, Annoying certainly but within the rules, otherwise you wouldn't be given a Timebank to use. I have been involved in some Live games where my opponents come out betting strong both before and after the flop, Then after I make the "nuts" on the Turn I will be raising any bets they make, knowing I have them beat, then if they continue the aggression on the River I will punish them. It's that simple! If they then decide to go into the Tank and waste my time, after I feel they have had long enough to consider their options, I will, and have called the floor manager over and put the clock on them, giving them another minute to waste.

Poker is so much more than a game of chance, There is a lot of skill involved, as well as a little luck thrown in, but also a lot of Patience needed, waiting for the right hands to come around, before you commit your chip's to the pot's, and waiting for your opponents to screw up and drop the ball. If you want a fast and exciting game to play, you could try taking up Speed Chess, and yes they have clocks too.

 

[dzsire]

There are tournaments in certain rooms where you can get to paid places using always the timebank. Of course, these are freerolls, not serious tournaments.
But you can't base a poker career on that...

 

[benitwapasu]

sometimes in a tourney where there are a certain number of seats awarded i have done this

 

[Skot_Gy]

Yes i've seen this kind of play.
It is annoying but you can't do anything, so better use that time positively, think yourself, make analysis, scenarios etc

 

[Cooking]

Most of the times if I use all my time is because I'm thinking what to do on another table that I'm also playing or because it's too close to the bubble and I have a short stack.

 

[Matt_Burns88]

I sometimes will use the full time (not time bank) for a few hand when we're approaching the bubble and I'm in the danger zone. In large MTT's this "tanking" can be the difference between cashing and being the bubble boy.
That said, I can't see any point in using the full time EVERY hand, if you're a winning player. As a winning player it would be -EV because you're playing less hands, which means your $/hr goes down.

 

[jerrycheng]

I'm still a beginner and don't use this advanced technique much

 

[Macaroon]

I've used a similar technique, but only on sites that allow you to show your cards. I have taken my full time before folding, then repeating this time after time. It marks me down as a prat who takes a long time and still folds. BUT then I can use that by raising with a big hand, usually in a late position, and if the rest fold (as they usually do) I can show them the big hand. Do that a couple of times and there's the chance that you can raise as a bluff, if you need to, and still win.

 

[steve01991]

sometimes when you are playing 4 or 5 tables at a time, you do need the extra time. in that case i think it is ok, but to do it purposely to slow the game , i feel is wrong.

 

[Magallaneroy]

In my case I used all my time bank to make other players feel anger or bored, so they played poorly against me.

 

[Ogma]

In my case I used all my time bank to make other players feel anger or bored, so they played poorly against me.

Pathetic!

 

[Zorba]

As annoying as it is, while the feature is there for everyone to use, there is nothing that can be done apart from learning to live with it.

 

[Poker Orifice]

In my case I used all my time bank to make other players feel anger or bored, so they played poorly against me.

Don't you sound like a real gem.
Do you think an edge can be gained doing this while playing in a field of decent players?

 

[fundiver199]

In my case I used all my time bank to make other players feel anger or bored, so they played poorly against me.

Might work in a freeroll but not in regular games, where people just open more tables, if they feel bored.

 

[kunkgreen]

Don't you sound like a real gem.
Do you think an edge can be gained doing this while playing in a field of decent players?

If you saw him playing you would see that it really must help him in some way! HAHAHA

 

[olejean]

Any behavior is acceptable if the rules allow it. Definitely everyone should not play only with your rules or mine, for example.

 

[Liedust]

Both i Guess