Rounding Up

If the rules there are that the dealer is supposed to enforce string bets, then yes, he should enforce it here. Otherwise, again, where exactly are you going to draw the line?

Agree, plus there are some vanishing small probability scenarios where those 2 white chips actually never get put in on the turn (Player holds 2-2, Flop is A-A-A and turn is A. Player literally can only chop with one other player holding 2 exact cards. Thus would be silly to call with those 2 chips or to bet them)

So a fold is literally possible even for $2 in a $400 pot. Then you get into the short rebuy situation. Some rooms will allow (others won't) those two chips to allow a short rebuy.

As noted if there is a bright line and you choose to blur it, the game will naturally push the limit. It might take 2 hands or 200 but almost inevitable we will go too far.

If it is the dealer's responsibility to call string bets, call the string bet. This is a low fuss ruling, since the last $2 can go in on the next street. It can act as a warning that there are some rules and nobody should be getting bent out of shape.

Of course a bright rules line is being blurred. No one arguing otherwise, in fact I made that clear in my hypothetical. The question was about when is it ok to bend certain rules in the spirit of the game.

In another thread I talked about there being a reason rules exist and that if a person understood the basic mechanics of poker and then also understood human nature and that people will push boundaries in order to cheat other players, a person could come up with a very close approximation of the rules easily.

Why does the string bet rule exist? It exists to prevent confusion among players about how much is bet and players taking advantage of that confusion to cheat other players. It is obvious if a player grabs two stacks of chips, pushes one stack out and looks at his opponent for a reaction and then pushes the other stack out that the player is taking advantage of the confusion of his bet size. So a rule against string bets needs to exist to prevent that. Simple.

However, in my hypothetical example, someone pushing out ~$200 and then dropping 2 white chips on top isn't angling with that $2 or looking for any type of reaction. They aren't trying to take advantage of another player through confusion. They made their motions simply because they have two hands, two stacks, and 2 extra white chips. The betting player is taking advantage of no one.

If we agree that rules can occasionally be bent for various reasons, then I think a time where absolutely no one is hurt and it ties into the spirit of the game of what the player was obviously trying to do should be one of those times.

Even your example of 22 on a AAA board doesn't make sense. If the betting player has 22 does the extra $2 change any other players decision? Nope. Furthermore, if the 4th ace comes on the turn, other players want the 22 player to get the extra $2 in. So by string betting the flop for $2, the bettor was not hurting anyone but possibly himself.

To the greater point the hypothetical was brought up in response about when it is reasonableto bend rules, by allowing a $2 string bet into a ~$440 pot, the dealer is not allowing any player to get taken advantage of, they are adhering to what the player clearly intended. No one is harmed. People who argue against this are probably the type of people who do not get invited to juicy private home games.

As for where I draw the line, it is obviously a grey area, but I don't think it is too hard to come up with some basics that cover 99% of situations.

1. The string bet shouldn't be more than a low single digit percent of the overall bet.
2. The string bet should only be for a smaller amount than the prime chip that makes up a majority of the main bet.
3. If anyone complains (especially the active opponents) the string bet is rejected. This will be accompanied by an explanation why to the bettor and possibly an eye roll.

Please note, this is only in cash games and only for unimportant amounts. Tournaments are different and the rules are much more closely adhered to.