I want to ask something regarding the revealing of a hand before showdown. Well, once I heard that you can only do it when there are only two players left and eventually you are the last to act. However, from some people, I also heard that you can’t do such.

Just recently, I read Doyle Brunson’s “Wisdom from a Poker Champion”, and I learned that he typically reveals his hand the same condition as the one mentioned above. Any idea about it?

Thanks! By the way, your site is so great. Congrats!

Tolbert
Tolbert,

This used to be allowed and was standard. In tournaments this is no longer allowed. This is viewed as trying to get an unfair advantage by trying to get a read by influencing the action. A player may receive a penalty up to disqualification for doing this. Some casinos still allow this in cash games, but some don’t.

I oftentimes play at casinos. Well, there’s actually one thing I notice, players there usually show their hand to the player sitting next to them or to other players around. At first, I don’t mind, however, as of now I find such kind of practice not helpful at all, most especially to the player who showed his hand.

Tomorrow, I’ll be going to the casino to play and I don’t know what to do. I’m bothered and I definitely want to do something about the practice I have discovered. However, I don’t want to look as if I’m mingling with the affairs of the room or the casino though I’m not in the position to do that.

In your own opinion, is the practice I’ve come to discover legal and ethical?

And another thing, can you help me with my problem about mucked hands. Right now, I still don’t know when to show my hand. Say we’re actually on the river and then I bet and so you called. I believe I have to show my hand then, but am I right for saying that I don’t have the right to see your hand because I’m the bettor? What’s your thoughts on this? And is it true that all players who called a river are obliged to show their hands at the end, and then a player will reveal his hand and then other players will just muck as they know they can’t win eventually? Any idea?

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you so much!

All the best,
Jon Lewis
Jon,

This is not an illegal practice as long as the players are not in the hand. However, you may request the dealer show everyone the hand since they showed the hand to other players.

A player that calls your bet at the end has the right to see your hand. If you muck your hand, they can request it be shown. In showing down hands, the player that makes the last aggressive action should be the one to show his hand first. In the event both players check down the hand, then the player closest to the button must show first.

Assume that at a $1/$2 no-limit game, buy-in is $100. Say you’re doing very well and are actually up the buy-in four times. However, because of some reasons like fear and lack of confidence, you thought of reducing the chips you have put in.

Well, I personally believe you can just leave the table and re-join for the normal buy-in at NHLE, however I’m not so sure if it’s the same thing at live cash games. Any idea? I heard once that the chips must remain in play, is this true? Also, is it a good thing to keep a few chips to secure the bankroll?

Thanks!

Regards,
Raf Bobwin
Raf,

In a live game this sort of thing is frowned upon. Many casinos ban it. If you want to take some of your chips off of the table, get up and leave the game and cash out. If you want to come back in, go back through the brush to obtain a new seat if you are in a live game. If you are online, just quit the table and buy back in with a new buyin.

As far as whether it is a good idea to secure some profit, sometime it is good, and sometimes it is not. It depends on whether it makes you play differently. If you want to secure some, and come back in and plan to play normally, then fine. But if you plan to come back into defend from losing your winnings, then don’t do it.

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.

At home together with some friends, I usually play poker. In a recent game, there were three players left, player 1, player 2 and me as player 3. Player 1 has somebody to help him all throughout while me and player 2 have no one. At mid part of the game, I noticed that the person helping player 1 was keeping half of the chips. Do you think that was legal? Personally, I believe it wasn’t at all.

Thanks in advance!

Kaye Welbourn
Kaye,

This is outright cheating. I am surprised you are allowing this to continue. Also, they are removing money from the table. This is also frowned up in cash games. In some casinos, players that take money off the table must cash out and come back into the game after going through the list.

In poker it is supposed to be one player to a hand. Receiving help is cheating.