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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Assume that the river card has been dealt and betting was finished. Revelation time now has come for the pocket cards.

Player A shows 1 card, he has a pair of Q’s while player B has a straight and so can now take home the pot. However, player A shows then his second card, he has a full house.

Who do you think should win then? And in your own opinion, does the way the cards are revealed matters?

Thanks! I hope to hear from you soon.

Best,
Cresswell
Cresswell,

Player A wins the pot, but he has committed a severe breach of etiquette known as slow rolling. The way you show a hand does not affect the outcome of the hand, but it is poor form. In tournaments, you can actually get a penalty for such actions. Slow rolling is considered a form of taunting and can cause lots of hard feelings at the table. He was probably just being cute, but I have seen people get into physical altercations due to such poor etiquette.