Angle Shoot Poker Tactics and How to Spot Them
Angle shooting in poker refers to unethical but not illegal tactics that some players use to gain an edge. These techniques can give angle shooters vital information about their opponent but will likely attract the ire of other players.
Understanding what constitutes an angle shot in poker will help you avoid being the victim of such tactics.
What is Angle Shooting in Poker?
A poker angle shoot bends but doesn’t break the rules.
Consider the slow roll as an example.
A player has the nuts and knows they’ve won the hand. They take their opponent through the flop, turn, and river and still have the strongest hand.
It’s time for the showdown, but instead of immediately showing their cards and putting their opponent out of their misery, they delay, wait for their opponent to show, and then reveal their cards.
Some would say it’s unnecessary, as the hand is already over. Some would argue that it frustrates the opponent, which could cause them to tilt (play on emotion and make erratic moves). Either way, it’s legal, but it won’t win you any friends at the table.
Other examples of a poker angle shoot include:
- Hiding Chips: High-value chips are hidden behind stacks of small chips, making it seem like the player has fewer chips than they do. As a result, other players are likely to act more aggressively and shove (go all-in) more frequently.
- Making Ambiguous Calls: In poker, saying things like “I might fold…call” or similar phrases is considered an angle shoot.
- Pushing and Pulling Chips: They move to push chips into the pot, check table reactions, and then pull back.
- Putting the Wrong Chips in the Pot: They put less than the required amount into the pot, claiming it’s a mistake.
- Pretending to Fold: The player pretends to fold their hand, gauges their opponent’s reaction, and then changes their mind if the opponent seems relieved.
Most angle shooting relates to live poker games, as it’s impossible to slow roll in most online games. It also doesn’t apply to video poker or casino games—check our Jacks or Better strategy for more info on video poker strategies.
Is it Against the Rules to Angle Shoot in Poker?
Shooting an angle in poker is not against the rules. The whole point of these techniques is to act within the rules while testing the patience of other players.
Casinos don’t insist that everyone shows their hands immediately at the showdown. It wouldn’t make sense to do so, as it punishes naturally slow players who have misread the game or don’t know what to do. Angle shooters take advantage by intentionally slow-rolling to anger other players.
Summary: What is Angle Shooting in Poker?
If you’re shooting an angle in poker, you’re bending the rules and breaking etiquette to annoy other players or give yourself an advantage. It’s frowned upon and won’t win any friends, but it’s not against the rules.
We wouldn’t advise following these techniques, but it is crucial to look for them. We also recommend checking genuine strategies, such as how to play out-of-position poker. If you’re setting up a home game but are short on supplies, see our guide on how to play poker without chips.
Poker Common Queries
How is angle shooting different from cheating?
Angle shooting doesn’t break any rules, but it goes against etiquette. Cheating would be stealing chips from the pot or bringing more into the game; angle shooting would be hiding your high-value chips behind others to mislead players. Many of these techniques lean on the excuse that the move was accidental. It’s hard to prove otherwise.
Why is angle shooting unethical?
It slows the game, misleads/frustrates other players, and is not considered proper etiquette.
What are examples of angle shooting?
Slow rolling—delaying showing a winning hand at the showdown—is one of the most common.
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