Proposition (poker)
1) An offer by one player to another to play under certain circumstances,
usually more favorable to the other player, in exchange for
calling a bet. Propositions are found mainly in no-limit lowball
games. For example, one player raises. The player who opened
the pot asks, "Two-for-one?" He is offering a proposition,
which is, in effect, saying, "I need to draw two cards
to this hand. I would not normally call your raise, but you
look like a sporting fellow, so I will call and draw two cards
if you agree that you will take one card. If you have to break
a pat hand to comply, then so be it; I will not play otherwise."
Gentlemen do not offer a proposition and then renege. In other
words, if you offer, for example, two-for-one, it's not considered
sporting to then draw only one or stand pat after the other
has thrown his card, nor is it sporting on his part to accept
and then stand pat. (Of course, he could accept and draw two,
because that is more of a gamble than the offerer of the proposition
was requesting or expecting.) If someone offers you a proposition,
naturally you can decline. Again, the sporting thing to do in
this example is not to say, "Oh, I'm probably drawing anyway,"
and then stand pat. If you don't want to give away anything
about your intentions, you can say, "Just call the bet,
or throw away your hand," or say nothing. Just don't out-and-out
lie. While permitted, it's not sporting, and will lose you respect
and action later. A counter proposition (described under pass
for a prop) is also a possibility.
2) An agreement between two or more players to always take part
in a certain gamble when circumstances warrant, such as open
blind, raise blind or two-three.
