"$x amount to call" clarified

[Admin]

In many situations the dealer will state "X" amount " TO CALL".
Many players misunderstand that when the dealer states "X amount to call", that is the TOTAL amount of the bet.
Players should understand that the amount stated by the dealer is in ADDITION to the amount already placed in to the pot.

For instance player A calls an initial $6 dollar bet.
The bet is raised twice (to $18) before the action returns to player A.
It is now $12 to CALL to player A, meaning they must place and additional $12 into the pot to bring the TOTAL to $18.

A second example:
In a 5-150 game Player A bets out $75 Player B raises $150 to a total of $225...
The dealer will say to player A  "it is $150 to call."

Inevitably player A will place an additional $75 into the pot when in fact they should be placing an additional $150 in to play.( of course that player has the option of re-raising)

[AllYourChips]

It's amazing how dumb people are that they can't understand this.

I was involved in a big 3 handed pot last week.  I had lead out $125 on the flop and they both called behind me.  The first player called super fast and I was 99% sure he was on the flush draw.  The other player behind was an uber donk who had raised pre, so I wasn't sure what he had.  The turn was a bad card for my hand and I checked as did the player whom I felt was on the flush draw.  The donkey moved all-in for $100 and I decided to raise $150 hoping to isolate.  Well the player inbetween us heard that I said "I raise $150" and thought that was the total bet and put $150 out there.  The dealer told him it was actually $250 to call and that his $150 had to stay in the pot.  At that point he obviously called the extra $100 and starting praying for a heart aloud. 

The river missed but that extra $150 he put in on the turn really minimized damage for me as the Donkey ended up hitting runners to win the main pot. 

[CAAZs #1 Card Slinger]

Let's all pay attention and keep our ears open!     I ALWAYS state the amount the player needs to put in to CALL.  Simple.