⏰ Stalling in Poker: Borderline Strategy or Unsportsmanlike Behavior?

🎯 Introduction – When Time Becomes a Weapon

Imagine this: we’re in the middle of a tournament, just a few eliminations away from a significant payout jump. A player, aware of the situation, faces a decision… and starts thinking. One minute. Two minutes. Three minutes. The table grows restless, glances are exchanged. Is this player simply trying to make the best decision… or using time as a weapon to move up in the payout structure?

---

🏆 A Case That Made Headlines: WSOP Main Event 2025

During the 2025 Main Event, a player was down to a single chip. Instead of acting quickly, he took… six minutes to “think” about his move. Meanwhile, another player at a different table was eliminated, allowing him to move up in the payouts without risking his last chip.

Pro Daniel Negreanu, who witnessed the scene, called it an obvious angle shoot:

“There’s no reason to tank like that except to steal a payout jump.”

This perfectly illustrates the dilemma: clever tactics or behavior against the spirit of the game?

---

🤔 Why Some Players Do It

Stalling (deliberately slowing down the game) is often motivated by:

• Reaching a payout jump: every elimination can mean a significant increase in prize money.

• Avoiding the blinds: stalling a few hands to preserve a short stack.

• Breaking the rhythm: frustrating opponents by slowing the pace.

For some, it’s simply strategic play. For others, it’s against the spirit of tournament poker.

---

📋 What the 2024 TDA Rules Say

• Rule 29 – Clock: Only a player or a floor can call the clock.

Once called, the tournament director gives 30 seconds to act (25 seconds + a 5-second countdown). If no action is taken when time expires, the hand is dead.

• Rule 70 – Ethics: Players must maintain a reasonable pace of play.

Deliberate and excessive stalling is unethical.

• Recommended Procedure RP-19 – Stalling: Floors must monitor deliberate slow play, especially in sensitive stages.

• Recommended Procedure RP-8 – Hand-for-hand:

Hand-for-hand play is applied at the bubble, but some organizers choose to start it several spots before to reduce stalling.

---

👥 Different Points of View

• The player: “I’m maximizing my chances; it’s within the rules.”

• The opponent: “You’re slowing down the game just for your advantage, it’s unfair.”

• The tournament director: “I must protect fairness and the pace of play, even if that means limiting your freedom to act.”

---

💡 Possible Solutions

To reduce abuse:

• Early hand-for-hand: start hand-for-hand several spots before the bubble or a major payout jump to neutralize stalling.

• Shot clock: limit decision time to 30 seconds per hand, with extra time chips for complex spots.

• Encouraging the clock: players should report excessive stalling to the floor promptly, regardless of the opponent’s reputation.

---

🎭 Conclusion – Where Do You Draw the Line?

Stalling sits in a gray area: not automatically illegal, but quickly punishable if deemed excessive or unethical. In the end, it’s up to the floor to decide, with one clear goal: preserve fairness and tournament integrity.

And you — if faced with a player tanking to move up a payout… would you call the clock?