Just the other day, I played no limit at Poker Stars. At some point, I was not allowed to do the raising and all. Blinds by the way were $100/$200.

With Qt of hearts, I was small blind. Eventually, for 200 two players called while for $100 I called. Later on, big blind checked, thus leaving him $435 left by which was in chips. Flop came and was Kc 9c Jh, hence providing me the straight. After analyzing everything, I then placed a bet of $400 while big blind raised all in to $435 without any doubts. Other two players called then the raise. When my turn to act came, I was permitted to only call the $35 and take note, without raising. By the way, other two players were not all in as long as I can remember.

Why do you think I was only allowed to call the $35? I don’t totally understand. I believe I should have been given the chance to raise.

Thanks and great site!

I hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Herb
Herb,

The reason that you were not allowed to raise is because the big blind’s raise was less than a half the size of the required raise amount. This actually does not constitute a true raise.

In a cash NL game held yesterday, I was the dealer. Unfortunately, I made a mistake. The player to act first placed a bet right after the flop. I remember he had a caller then. A player was in the hand, however his cards were concealed behind his hand and it was an honest mistake, I forgot he was still in the hand. Turn card came and I flipped it over before he made a move. Just few seconds after, he announced that he was going to call and therefore the hand continued.

Any comments about what happened? Base on the rules, was everything acceptable?

Thanks!

Landon Woffer
Landon,

If I were there, I would have let it go with the way it happened. In a casino, it is the call of the floor person. Some may let it go at his word and others may require that you pull back the turn and burn and turn a new turn. Then you take the old turn card, put it back in the deck, shuffle it, and then burn and turn the river.

In a recent game by which my friend was in, something happened. At preflop, there was betting. Then flop came and after that two players remained, player A and player B. Player A went all in. While player B without any doubt, immediately flipped his cards and afterwards said “I flopped a straight”. I was not there actually so I am not certain if the cards that were flipped touched the muck pile or not. Well, I think they didn’t. There’s just one thing I am certain of, player B had turned his cards over however never call, go all in or fold.

Do you think what player B did is already a call or else a fold? Any idea?

Thanks!

Jeffrey Anderson
Jeffrey,

Most will assume this to be a call. The dealer should have asked if he was calling. That would have solved it right there. If this happened in a casino, the dealer would ask his intentions and then move on. If there was a debate, then the floor would be called, but the fact he flipped his cards up and declared his hand would have been ruled an intention to call the bet.

In a certain holdem event, me and two other players were down to the river. If I could remember it right, I need a club on the river to make a flush. River card came and of course I was hoping to have the card I wanted. Then when I saw light, I therefore called all in. Player 2 then asked how much and so I counted my chips. Player 2 suddenly said that I better have a hundred or so. Then few seconds passed and I revealed my cards, A high flush. Player 3 was upset then as he already doesn’t have the opportunity to call the all in because of what I did.

Any comments about the incident? Also, do you think I should have been eliminated from the hand as I have flipped my cards over?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Nathan Lewis
Nathan,

You are not eliminated from the hand. Player 3 has the opportunity to still call. You must act first. You cost yourself some bets, but that is all. Your hand is not dead.

I played holdem with some family members just this evening. I admit most of us are just newbies.

At near mid part, three were left for the pot including me. With a small pot, I went all-in. Two other players had more chips than me, later, they called my bet. Flop then came. However, two cards were not revealed.

Do you think the two other players should have continued to bid on the turn and river card, actually right after I called all-in? Or else with the other two players, the two cards may have just been flipped with no more side bidding? Any idea?

Thanks!

Regards,
Darrel Koester
Darrel,

Your two opponents have the option to bet or not to bet after they call your all in bet. They must still at least check it down on the flop, turn, and river.

I hope you are not so busy for I have three questions for you. Thank you in advance.

1. Assume that I’m the dealer but unfortunately I’m out of the hand and then there’s player 1 and 2. Player 1, at some point, revealed his cards and announced he has a pair. But without knowing, he has a straight instead. Player 2 has a higher pair and then made some efforts to win over the pot. Personally, do you think it was just right to call the straight as the winning hand as after all I’m the dealer? Or instead I’ll just wait for some things to happen as the decision was for both players to make?
2. Do you burn the cards during the dealing of two hole cards right after the deck is cut?
3. Do you know any rule about who cuts the cards during a game?

Thanks again!

Bill Stull
Bill,

1. In Holdem games, cards speak. This means that it is the dealer’s responsibility to call the hand and award the pot. Other players can assist. The only difference in this is if you have a home game where the rules require you call your own hand. In that even, you are not allowed to help. In casinos and professional games, the rule is cards speak.
   
2. You do not burn card before dealing each player their hole cards.
   
3. In a holdem game, the dealer is supposed to cut the cards. However, in many home games it is customary to have the player on your right cut the cards.

Let’s assume that in a standard game, I have pocket Aces. Eventually, I placed a wager that I feel just right for me to have callers. Then four players call my bet and quite as expected no one raised.

I’m wondering, what if the player to my right makes the last in the series of calls, can I bet one more time? Or else the betting finally ended the instance flop was expected? Honestly, I would like to continue making small wagers inexactly to keep milking chips from my opponents at the table. But I believe that the betting has finally ended because there was no raise at some point.

Now, in the event there are no raises right after an initial bet was pushed through, can the initial bettor begin another betting round? In case yes, is there a limit with regards to the number of times this can happen? Any idea?

Thanks for your time spent on reading this. More power!

Simon Lloyd
Simon,

Once you bet or raise, you may not act again during that betting round unless someone raises you.

In one of the recently held tourneys, I was dealt pocket Queens and then sent my 7000 chips into the pot. By the way, this one happened when 9 out of 50 players remained for the pot. Later on one player called and one guy at the near end of the table was figuring things out. I then also pondered on the call just made and then decided to show him my cards to deter him from going for the pot. Fortunately, it worked. However, I want of course to hear a pro’s opinion on this one. What do you think? Was it just right to scare him off? I guess it was effective but I am not sure if it was legal and ethical.

Thanks!

Warm regards,
Balley
Balley,

Not only was it unethical, it was not a legal move. If you did that in a live tourney, you would at least receive a penalty, and they would be within their rights to disqualify you from the tournament. What you are doing is improperly influencing the action. On a first offense, you would probably just get a penalty.

Thanks a lot!

Regards,
Miller
Miller,

What should have happened is that the player be allowed to complete the action on the flop and then the turn betting occurred. There was no reason to give everyone back their money.

I’d start by sharing that for three times a week, I play live N/L tournaments near my hometown. There’s one player I usually encounter in my games. I believe he is one of the best amongst the locals and I heard he runs the NL tournaments. Just last week, I saw him and actually got the chance to play with him.

I remember I was the button and he was the small blind. The big blind was the only other player in the hand. Well, I had A9 off-suit and an A flopped. Back then, no one folded and the turn was another A. Both then checked while I placed a bet and he folded with no doubts on his face. Afterwards, the big blind called. Then the river came and was a 5. Big blind checked and so I then placed a minimum bet to the big blind. For three times my bet, he re-raised me. I then called. Later on, he showed AJ and so I lost. I then threw my cards towards the muck. I remember the next shuffler was about to pick them up when the small blind said he wanted to take a look at my cards. I disagreed but then he insisted and so eventually he got the chance to turn my cards up. Because of my cards, I believe he got some information that he can use for his advantage. Do you think what the small blind did was legal and acceptable?

Please, I need your help.

Thanks!

Best,
Reynolds
Reynolds,

In a tournament, a player may not request that you show your hand. This is acceptable in cash games when a call is made, but not in a tournament.