I guess I'm not expressing the situation properly and please, correct me if I'm wrong. Before I try again; the last line in rule #31 is what I question; an all-in wager of less than a full raise (which the $490 wager of player C qualifies as because it would have to be a raise to $500) would not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted. When you consider that player A did act first by checking. Why should he not be allowed to raise player B's initial wager of $250? Thanks for your response Nick C
Hey Nick: First off, these bet-reopening situations can be a little tricky. Here's how I'd look at this one:
1) The key is that the only thing that re-opens betting in NO LIMIT game is a full bet or raise. Anything less and you can only call it.
2) It doesn't matter how that full bet is reached. It could be by one better, or a series of all ins that TOTAL a full bet or raise.
3) In this case, we don't exactly know what the full minimum original bet is, but we know it has to be at least 250 because that's what B bet. Once B makes that 250 original bet, then a subsequent raise has to be at least 250. So, let's assert some values here and say we're at 125-250 on the blinds.
4) THIS BETTING ROUND starts with A checking.... If the action doesn't "build up" to at least a full minimum bet (250) by the time action gets back to A, he can only smooth call any all-in wager that's less than a full bet (per rule 31).
5) Now, A checks and B bets 250 (the full minimum for a 125-250 blind level). RIGHT THERE the betting for A is re-opened. 6) Player C goes all in for another 240 and we're up to 490 total to A. 7) A can call, raise, or fold... the action is re-opened because the total bet back to him is at least a full minimum. And in this case, either B's bet of 250 constitutes a full bet to re-open OR lets hypothesize that B checked and C went all-in for his $490... the $490 would also be in excess of a full bet and enough to re-open action to A & B. 7) Now, let's hypothesize and say B checks and C goes all-in for just 240 total, then that's not a full minimum bet, A & B have already acted, and neither of them can raise the 240, they can only smooth call.