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.

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.

Just recently, I played poker with twelve men I personally don’t know. At mid part of the game, I remember I only had a 10/4 off suit. Actually, until the river cards, I was checking and betting with a certain guy. I tried to bluff as much as I can recall, however I’m not sure if we checked on the river or if either one of us placed a bet. Eventually, I revealed a pair of 4′s while he had a pair of six’s. We both knew then that he had won the pot.

Later, I just mucked my other card without letting him know what it was. But the guy was so rude, he grabbed my card and looked at it as if no one was around him. Honestly, I was so mad at the guy. I believe if he wanted to see my card he can ask the dealer to turn my card over.

Any comment on what happened to me and with the other guy?

Thanks!

Karl Bynum
Karl,

The player has the right to see the card, but he is supposed to ask the dealer to show the card. He was being rude. At most it is just poor etiquette.

In a live Texas Holdem game, there were two players left for the pot. The dealer then had KK as hole cards while the big blind QJ. Flop came and was A J 10. Turn followed and was 7. The river was the next and was 3. Afterwards, big blind placed a bet of 10k. Eventually, the dealer called the bet the moment big blind announced an A high straight. Maybe because no one was looking, nobody saw the dealer finally threw in his pair KK. However, big blind was so ashamed to find out in the end that he only had JJ and not A high straight. Who do you think should win, if ever you were there present?

Thanks a lot!

Cheers,
Fred Buysse
Fred,

If the K-K showed his hand, he should have won the hand. In a casino, cards speak. What this means is that it is the responsibility of the dealer running the game to read the hand and award the pot appropriately. If a person miscalls their hand, that does not matter. In most home games, the rule is also cards speak. Some require that a hand be called to get the pot.

If the person called their hand and the kings mucked, then his hand is dead. The player should have made sure the other player indeed had the straight.

Say on the board were A 6 6 7 7. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any hope for a flush. Then two players were in the hand and several bets have appeared. Player A checked and so as player B.
Later, player A threw in his cards while player B turned over king, queen.

Now, I’m wondering should it be a split pot as player B cannot beat the board? Also, if player A can’t beat the board, is he still oblige to show his cards?

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you!

Charles Keller
Charles,

If player A and player B showed their hands and both have to play the board, then it is a split pot. If player B showed his hand and player A mucked his hand, then player B is awarded the pot. In the event that both players play the board, both players must show their hold cards in order to receive their portion of the pot.

Yesterday, I played poker. Well, something happened that caused the argument at the table.

A friend of mine who was the dealer just finished distributing the cards when he realized he has wrongly dealt the cards, he actually skipped a certain player. Eventually, all of us at the table just decided to re-deal the cards.

However, one guy got so mad because of my friend’s mistake, and so maybe because of curiosity I decided to look at that guy’s cards. He had an ace and king same suited actually. Unfortunately, he saw me looking at his cards so he became very furious and said that he mucked. I defended myself of course and said that there was no harm done on him as the cards weren’t going to be played after all. But he still fought out that it doesn’t matter if the cards are to be played or not, what’s important is that he mucked and so I am not allowed to take a look or peek. What do you think, does he makes sense?

Thank you very much.

Cheers,
David
David,

First, the hand was a misdeal since a player was skipped. The person that got offended that you looked at his hand had no reason to get mad. Since the hand was a misdeal, the hand doesn’t count. If he had mucked in a live hand, then he has a reason to get mad.