Steam......

[joseph]

I would like to ask Boomer,Reno and all the rest of the truly informed professionals on this forum,to give your definitions of "steam".People seem to use it in slightly different ways,to some degree or another.Thanks.

[reno]

"Steam" is fast, intense line movement in a single direction. For example, if virtually all offshore books go from -120 to -135 on a baseball game in a matter of seconds, that is "steam."

[Bette Midler]

I would add to that by saying that steam is often originated by one of the organized betting groups and is then sustained by the flock of sheep that follow them (steam players). These steam chasers help to maintain the single direction of the move, and can sometimes create a snowball effect that moves a line beyond what the originators of the move could have effected. Eventually, the steam will settle when scalpers start to buy back attractive numbers going the other way.

[rellekneleh]

How do steam chasers work? Do they get it before it is played or do they hit books that are slow to change the line?