Champions of Poker

Hello,

I joined a certain NL tourney with 19 players at two tables the other day. Earlier part, it was just actually first round of blinds, I was dealt TT in middle position. Everyone else then folded. Three times the BB, I then raised and got two callers. Flop came and brought J98 all spades. I checked on what I have then and saw I have Ts.

Later, BB checked and I followed. A certain guy placed a very big bet, I believe it was about four times the pot. BB then folded and so am I.

Eventually, a guy I don’t know personally won the pot. He mucked his hand and luckily I was able to take a peek. He had Ad then. I wasn’t able to see the other card he had and he even refused to show me. Well, if he had A K or Q of spades, then sorry for me but if it was something else, maybe I could have won.

What do you think of how I’ve played the game? I think I should have called or have pushed all in, but I’m not sure. Any advice or comment perhaps?

Thanks!

Spike
Spike,

You did not have pot odds to make the call. You had probably 14 outs or 56% to win if you were behind to a pair. Your opponent bet four times the pot. You did not have the odds to call.

It was a good fold.

Hello,

I would like to clarify some stuff.

1. Is it true that you only have to show your hand to someone that has called or raised? I remember you once stated in one of your sections that specifically in holdem any player can see another player’s pocket cards once they’ve been mucked, but of course the requesting player has called or raised the last bet made.

2. Yes, I remember you said that folded hand can only be seen by a player as long as he has called or raised the last bet made. However, I can remember vaguely as well that you stated that the player could see the hand as long as he called the river or even bet or raised it. Sorry, but I’m confused.

   Maybe, to make things clear, consider this:

   River was turned and eventually it was time to show. There were five players left. Player A placed a bet, player B folded, while player C haven’t acted as he was already out since the flop. Player D called and so as player E. Player A then revealed the winner. Players D and E have folded.

   Now, who gets the chance to take a look at the cards of player D? How about player E’s?

Please, I need your expertise.

Thanks!

Warm regards,
Lemire
Lemire,

1. If the river was bet and called, then the player has the rights to see each other’s cards. If one of the players mucks their hands, then the other player may request to see the hand.
   
2. Both players can see player D’s hands. The same applies to player E’s. When a bet has been called on the river, the remaining players in the hand have the rights to see each others hands.

Hi,

At a certain tourney I was in, two players went heads-up. Later, player A decided to raise. Player B then re-raised and consequently player A called and then flipped his hand over. Though quite upset, player B accepted he lost however he didn’t revealed his hand. Player A insisted then that he’d like to see the hand as he paid for it actually, through his re-raise. As the host, I should be the one to solve the dispute. Well, personally, I believe that whenever no one went all in, it would be the obligation of the caller alone to reveal what he had. Am I correct?

Thanks!

Regards,
Knickelbein
Knickelbein,

Player A was correct. When a player calls a bet at the river, the player has the right to see their opponent’s cards, even if the opponent mucked.

Hi,

At the card room the other night, the table got to heads up and both hand were turned face up. Quite surprising, the dealer called the hand wrongly and then had the card and mucked them out of a sudden. Afterwards, the floor person had the mucked cards back and revealed them. He then awarded the pot to the true winner.

Any comment?
Thanks!

Coble
Coble,

In a casino, cards speak. This means it is the dealer’s responsibility to award the pot to call the hand and award it to the correct winner. Since the dealer made a mistake, the floor person is responsible to correct the error. Proper procedure was followed in this instance.

Hello,

Say flop was dealt and then round of betting followed and so as the 4th street. There were two players left, player 1 and player 2. Player 1 checked while player 2 said loudly he’d check or call and then threw his cards down. Player 2 thought that it was over, however, the river card was not yet dealt.

Now, what do you think of player 2’s hand?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Voellinger
Voellinger,

If the player mucked his hand and the hand had not hit the muck, the dealer can remind him that the player checked and the play can continue. If it hit the muck, the hand is dead.

Hi,

Last night, I believe I played the dumbest game of my life. At mid part I guess, I called a bet and I was actually all in on the turn with top pair and an outside straight draw. I was also heads up against someone and suddenly he turned over the nuts. If I can remember it right, somebody at the table said that he had folded an ace beforehand. I don’t know why but it was too late for me to realize my cards face down, I believe the dealer then was already turning the final card. River then came and was one of the two remaining Aces in the deck. I then tried to get back my hand from the dealer after realizing what a fool I am. Honestly, my hand was on a face down but it has not touched the muck anyway. However, a certain player believed that I mucked. Later, the house man sided on him and so gave to him the winnings. The dealer who was the one holding the hand silently disagreed as for him the hand never touched the muck.

Any thoughts regarding the incident. Was the house man right for giving the winnings to the other player? Please, I need to hear your opinion on this.

In advance, thank you.

Gallagher
Gallagher,

If you were all in against one player, your hand should have been turned face up. When a player is all in, their hand cannot be mucked by the dealer.

You should have pointed out that you were all in and had not mucked. You should have been allowed to show your hand.