Poker Basics - Shot Clocks

If you are relatively new to live poker you have only ever known the shot clock, but what are they for and do they make the game better?

A shot clock in poker is a timer which is reset by the dealer after every action. It is usually about 20-30 seconds, though some vary depending on the street. 

Players are given an allowance of time cards for when they have a particularly tough decision. These cards are automatically used when the clock hits zero. 

When a player runs out of cards and the clock hits zero, that players hand is folded by the dealer. 

What problem do they solve?

Shot clocks came into live poker to speed up the game, for several reasons. First of all, online players are used to a fast game and prior to shot clocks they would get bored easily playing live. 

Most of all, however, they are used to prevent needless stalling by some players. 

A small cohort of live poker players would stall, sometimes when a pay jump or bubble was looming. It was a way to make their table play less hands, which can actually be profitable during notable ICM spots, but is against the spirit of the game and frustrating for players who want to build their stacks during this time. 

Stalling was also employed by some players to deliberately frustrate and tilt their opponents. It may have made those opponents make unforced errors, but it makes for an unpleasant playing environment.

Most players adapted well to the shot clock without complaint and found that 20-30 seconds was more than enough for most decisions. 

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