Assume that the river card was already revealed and no betting to expect. Then when revealing of the pocket cards came, player A flipped just one card over, he had a pair of Q’s. Player B followed and flipped his two cards over, he had a straight then and so started to collect his winnings. However, before he was able to collect everything, player A flipped his other card over and surprisingly he had a full house. Player B was upset but then insisted that once player 1 unveiled he had a pair of Q’s, he can’t already change that. Player B also said that player A can’t use his other card to have his full house because it was already too late.

Is it significant, the way you reveal your cards?

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards,
David Myers
David,

How you reveal your cards does not matter. Since Player A had a full house, he gets the pot. This is however a serious breach of etiquette known as slow rolling. In tournaments you can receive a penalty for such actions. In a cash game, you are likely to receive a punch in the face.

I played no limit holdem with some business partners. Well, one hand came down to two players, player A and player B. Before the river, player A was hoping back then for a flush with clubs in the pocket and two on the table. Player B was already committed to pocket with QQ. River card came and good for player A as he got his flush. Suddenly, without betting or even checking, he showed his cards. A keen observer who was around since the start of the game said that he mucked. Later, he admitted his mistake that he had forgotten however everyone at the table believed then it was a muck. What do you think? And if in case no one went all in, what will be the verdict?

Thanks!

Schultz
Schultz,

This was not a muck. He just prematurely showed his hand. Action could continue as normal, but the other player would have added information.

I believe the incident that was said to be a “mucked” was just a question of intention. Well, if a player never directly said he’d fold or else surrender his cards then he is actually up to play the hand. I guess the simplest and just solution is to consider the player to be in an all in status.

What do you think? Do you have anything in mind?

Thanks!

Warm regards,
Timothy M. Bates
Timothy,

It depends on a couple of factors whether the hand would be allowed to play. If he went to show and the cards hit face down and he is reaching out like “Wait, I meant to show that” then yes he should be allowed. But if it is a case where the dealer pulled his hand in because it looked like he had folded it, then he has no recourse.

Players are required to protect their hand at all times. Now if he had a chip or something on it and the dealer mucked it, then he has recourse.

I’m just wondering if a player who is posting the big blind can actually ever raise before cards are even dealt, particularly when in no limit holdem. In some of the games I was able to witness, players with few chips left should put in what they still have prior to the dealing of the cards.

Any idea on the stuff I’m troubled of?

Thanks,
Bob Llewelyn
Bob,

The only person that could “raise blind” and get away with it would be the first person to act after the big blind. Some people will do a “straddle bet” which is a third blind that is used to force action. Players in other positions may not do this. The reason the first player to act may is because they are first to act and it’s their action anyway.

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.

In a recent tournament, a situation came up. I remember then that after the flop, I went all-in. Later, I had one caller for it. Well, it was the first hand of the tournament therefore both of us were all-in. I was then the dealer and when the time to flipped my two cards came, we were quite surprised as one of them hit one of the community cards. By the way both my cards were face up then.

So now, do you think that meant a dead hand and so the other guy actually won? Well some players said that I lost automatically while there are some who said that it was another way around as my cards were face up actually. What do you think?

Thanks!

Regards,
Lynette Bower
Lynette,

There should never be a rule killing your hand if your card touches the flop. This is a silly rule and there is really no good reason for it.

For sake of argument, let’s say the rule is in place. Since you are all in and the cards are already face up, then it does not matter if the community cards touch your cards. The dealer should just push your hand off to the side while they deal the cards. This should not be an issue.

At a local casino yesterday, I played at a 3/6 limit holdem table. I remember I had K 10 unsuited then. Flop came and was K Q 10, rainbow. At some point, I was confident having my 2 pair because I was the one who started the betting and another thing, no one raised me. Of course, later on, turn came and was an A. Betting came and many players were eliminated, two players were left, me and another guy. Then the river came and was a Jack. On the board then was a A-high straight, unfortunately, no hope for a flush. I placed a bet then and he raised. After few seconds, I called him. Revelation time came and he showed an A and a 10. I didn’t revealed my cards then however pushing them while looking down the common cards. I then said “my best hand is on the table”.

In the end, the pot was given to the other guy because the dealer insisted that my cards were mucked. I don’t totally agree with the dealer yet I believe I can’t do anything more about it.

Any advice or thoughts about what happened?

Thanks a lot!

Mike Lewis
Mike,

In the event that your best five card hand is on the board, you must show your cards to get part of the pot. If you toss your cards into the muck, it is considered a fold. This is such a common occurrence that a rule was written out in tournament rules just for this reason.

While other players were still betting, a certain player who was all in showed his cards. I’m wondering if this allowed. What do you think? I heard doing such will just distract other players who were still up for the betting round.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks!

Clark Dawson
Clark,

Acting out of turn is not allowed regardless of whether they are all in or not. This influences action and disrupts the natural flow of the hand.