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.

In one of my games, there was a beginner. Well, it was pretty much obvious then that he was a beginner. One thing I noticed was that he kept on raising unreasonable amounts back then, hence making every player fold. There are instance when someone had a decent hand and will spent some time thinking, trying to read him, but in the end will just opt to fold. Most players fold because they want to see the guy’s hand.

Do you think the guy and the way he play does makes sense? Does showing your hand not in the proper time acceptable? Any thoughts?

Thank you.

Benson Andrew
Benson,

The player was using a strategy of betting large amounts to make people fold. It’s not the wisest strategy but many beginners try it.

Taking a long time to show your hand or showing you had slowly to make someone think they have won when they haven’t is a form of slow rolling. It does not cause the person doing it to lose the pot, but it is a breach of etiquette.

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.

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.

Say for an instance, there were three players left for the pot, player 1, 2, and 3. Player 1 was the short stack and he went all in. Players 2 and 3 as a result called. Flop came and maybe because quite confident player 2 went all in. Player C on the other hand, believed then that he should go for initial three way pot.

Personally, I believe that in the event player 3 opt to fold, he will then lose his right for three way pot. What do you think? Am I right?

Thanks!

Don Lidster
Don,

Once the first player went all in, remaining betting goes to the side pot. The players in the side pot will battle for the side pot and the rights to the main pot. If player 3 folds to a bet, they forfeit the rights to the main pot.

Before I lay down my question, I would like to thank you for creating and maintaining a site like this one. Thanks for all the efforts!

For my question, well say at a table, 100-100 blinds. Then player A is the big blind, 200. There is player B who will go all in for 150. Finally, there is player C who will raise to 400. Later on, player A who is the big blind will fold. What do you think should happen next? Player C will match the 150 all in of player B?

Also, I’m wondering, what if player B wins, is he going to take home the pot including the 200 of the big blind? Or else just the 150 as the 50 will go to player C? What do you think?
Thanks!

All the best,
Del Wilhelm
Del,

Player C will only have to match the 150 of Player B. The most that player B can win from each player is 150. The extra 50 from player A would automatically go to player C he calls the all-in bet.

I’m wondering, what if a player throws over his cards face up preflop without saying it, should he therefore call all in bet or what?

I’ll be glad to hear from you soon.

Thanks,
Joe Powers
Joe,

If a player throw their hand in preflop and do not declare anything when it is their turn to act, first ask them what their intended action was. If it was to fold, then the hand is folded. If it was to bet, raise, or call an all-in bet, then that’s the action.