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Misdeals, Showdowns, Dead Hands and More
By PokerListings.com
Although all of the many games filed under the category "poker" have specific rules and nuances, there are some general poker rules that are universal across all variations.
If you're looking for game-specific rules, such as how to play Texas Hold'em, Omaha or 7 Card Stud, you will find them in one of these articles:
If you're in the market for something even more specialized, like No-Limit or Pot-Limit betting rules, or even the rules for a game such as Badugi, you can find it on the main Poker Rules page:
The Buy-In
Once you get a seat at a table (this is usually done by putting your name on a waiting list), the first thing you have to do is buy in.
There is always a set minimum players have to buy in for, and often a set maximum.
As with any rule you're unclear on, you can always ask the dealer for the buy-in limits.
In fixed-limit poker, the minimum buy-in amount is typically 10 times the higher betting limit.
In a $5/$10 Limit game, the minimum buy-in would be for $100.
There is no maximum amount players can buy in for in a Limit game.
In No-Limit poker, guidelines around buy-in amounts vary more from one game to the next.
The general minimum buy-in in a No-Limit game is 20 times the big blind.
In a $5/$10 No-Limit game, the minimum buy-in would be for $200.
The general maximum buy-in is 100 times the big blind.
In a $5/$10 No-Limit game, the maximum buy-in would be for $1,000.
Some games (mostly the higher-limit games) have an unlimited maximum buy-in.
Most live poker rooms allow players to make one short buy. This means that after a player has bought in and subsequently lost all her chips, she's allowed a one-time rebuy for less than the minimum.
Adding to Your Stack
As long as a player has less than the maximum buy-in, he can add to his stack at any time.
If a player announces he would like to add on while he's in a hand, the additional funds will not be live (meaning it's as if they do not exist) until the next hand is dealt.
There is no minimum amount for a player to add on to his stack. As long as he has a single chip left from an original full buy-in, he can add on any amount he wishes, up to the buy-in maximum.
Moving Tables
If a player moves to a different table of the same structure and limit, she must bring her exact stack from the old table to the new table.
She is allowed to buy more chips when she reaches the new table, as long as she doesn't exceed the maximum buy-in.
If she has more than the maximum amount already, she must keep all of those chips in play.
If she moves from one limit to a different limit, she is viewed as a new player at that limit, and must adhere to its buy-in rules, whether that means buying more chips or cashing some out.
Dealing
Various rules govern the dealing of the cards. Here are some common dealing anomalies you may run into at a poker table.
Flashed Cards
During a deal, it's common for the dealer to accidently flip one card over, or "flash" enough of its face for another player to see the face value of the card. In such a situation the dealer does the following:
The flashed card is turned faceup in front of the player it was supposed to be dealt to.
The dealer continues dealing as if nothing has gone awry, until all players (minus the one player with a flashed card) have their proper amount of cards.
The dealer then deals the player with the flashed card a new card from the top of the deck and announces to the whole table the value and suit of the card exposed.
This exposed card now becomes the first "burn card," and play continues as it normally would.
There can only be one flashed card per deal. If more than one card is exposed, the deal is considered a misdeal.
Any card that falls off the table due to the dealer's action is considered a flashed card, regardless of how many (if any) players have seen its value.
Misdeals
A misdeal is when the dealer makes a mistake large enough during the original deal to warrant taking in all the cards and starting over with a freshly shuffled deck. There are a few circumstances that precipitate a misdeal.
The first or second card to be dealt gets flashed.
More than one card being dealt gets flashed.
The dealer starts the deal on the wrong player.
One or more players receive more or fewer than the proper number of cards.
Other dealing situations that result in a misdeal can come up too. These unique circumstances are addressed in this article:
If the dealer can fix the problem that caused the misdeal without affecting the hand, she will usually remedy it rather than declare a misdeal. For example:
If the dealer deals the first three cards before realizing that she started on the wrong player, provided no one has looked at their cards yet, she can just move the cards to their proper places and continue.
If a hand is dealt to a seat with no player, typically that hand is just killed, meaning it's folded.
Betting and Raising
Check-raising is permitted in all games, except in certain forms of lowball.
In No-Limit and Pot-Limit games, unlimited raising is allowed.
Although the maximum number of raises for a Limit game can change from room to room, typically a Limit game is allowed one bet and three raises.
Once the third raise is made, all betting is capped (no more raising is allowed on that betting round).
Despite the previous rule, unlimited raising is allowed in heads-up play. This applies anytime the action becomes heads-up before the raising has been capped.
Once the raising is capped on a betting round, it cannot be uncapped by a subsequent fold that leaves two players heads-up.
In Limit play, an all-in wager of less than half a bet does not reopen the betting for any player who has already acted and is in the pot for all previous bets.
A player facing less than half a bet may fold, call or complete the wager.
An all-in wager of half a bet or more is treated as a full bet, and a player may fold, call or make a full raise. (An example of a full raise is on a $20 betting round, raising a $15 all-in bet to $35).
Unless otherwise noted, the smallest chip that may be wagered in a game is the smallest chip used in the antes, blinds, rake or collection.
Smaller chips used for tipping do not play even in quantity. If the minimum playable chip is $25, even five $5 chips do not play.
A verbal statement denotes a player's action, and is binding. If in turn a player verbally declares a fold, check, bet, call or raise, he is forced to take that action.
Rapping the table with one's hand (or waving it) is considered a check.
Deliberately acting out of turn is not tolerated. Details on how to deal with an action out of turn vary depending on the house rules in play.
A player who bets or calls by releasing chips into the pot is bound by that action, unless the dealer failed to announce a raise of a bet preceding the play. If the player is unaware of the previous bet, and the dealer has NOT announced it, the player may take his bet back if he wishes.
Some poker rooms rule that any forward motion with chips is a binding bet, or call.
String bets are not allowed. A player must place her total bet (call + raise) in the pot in one motion. She cannot return to her stack to grab more chips while betting.
The only exception to the above rule is if the player has verbally declared her bet before she begins the physical action.
If a player puts a single chip in the pot that is larger than the bet, but does not announce a raise, her bet is always considered a call.
All wagers and calls of an improperly low amount must be brought up to proper size if the error is discovered before the betting round has been completed.
The Showdown
A player must show all cards in the hand faceup on the table to win any part of the pot.
Cards speak, meaning regardless of what a player declares he has in his hand, he only has the hand denoted by his cards.
The dealer reads all hands, and declares the winning hand.
Players are responsible for holding onto their cards until the winner is declared.
Although verbal declarations as to the contents of a hand are not binding, deliberately miscalling a hand with the intent of causing another player to discard a winning hand is unethical, and may result in forfeiture of the pot.
Any player, dealer or floorman who sees an incorrect amount of chips put into the pot, or an error about to be made in awarding a pot, has an ethical obligation to point out the error.
All losing hands will be killed by the dealer before a pot is awarded.
Any player who mucks her winning hand before the dealer has declared the hand as the winner forfeits the pot to the next best live hand.
Although it is within the rules for any player who has been dealt in to request to see any hand that has been called, even if the opponent's hand or the winning hand has been mucked, it is considered extremely poor etiquette, and insulting, to do so.
If a player shows cards to another player during or after a deal, any player at the table has the right to see those exposed cards. This is known as "show one, show all."
The player who made the final aggressive action on the final betting round must open his hand first at showdown. This means the player who called on the river can wait for the player who bet on the river to show his hand first.
If all players check on the final betting round, the players must open their hands in order of table position. The player closest to the left of the dealer must open first.
It is considered a grave breach of etiquette for a player to withhold showing a clearly winning hand at showdown until her opponents have shown first. This is known as slow-rolling. Regardless of position, a player holding the best possible hand is expected to show her cards immediately as the showdown begins.
Dead Hands
There are a few situations that may arise in which a player will have his hand declared dead, regardless of his intentions.
Note that it's your responsibility as a player to protect your hand by holding onto your cards, or placing a chip or other item on top of them.
The following circumstances will cause your hand to be declared dead.
A player folds or announces that he's folding when facing a bet or a raise.
A player throws his hand away in a forward motion, causing another player to act behind him (even if not facing a bet).
In Stud, when facing a bet, a player picks his up cards off the table, turns his up cards facedown, or mixes his up cards and down cards together.
A player's hand does not contain the proper number of cards for that particular game (except at Stud a hand missing the final card may be ruled live, and at lowball and draw high a hand with too few cards before the draw is live).
A player acts on a hand with a joker as a hole card in a game not using a joker. (A player who acts on a hand without looking at a card assumes the liability of finding an improper card.)
A player has the clock on him when facing a bet or raise and exceeds the specified time limit.
A player throws his cards facedown and they touch the muck pile.
Despite the last rule, if he folded his hand due to false information received from another player, it may be retrieved from the muck at the discretion of the floorman, as long as it is clearly identifiable among the other mucked cards.
A player throws his cards into another player's unprotected hand (regardless of whether they are faceup or facedown).
Irregularities
Glitches sometimes occur in a game of poker. Some are unique; others happen more often. How to deal with these irregularities is always up to the floorman's discretion. For advice on how to resolve situations such as:
Player missing a blind
Buying the button
Multiple boxed cards in the deck
Removing small chips from play in tournaments
... and more, head to this article:
Comment(s) on this article
Anna Jun 10, 2008
???
Confusing
???
Sean Lind Jun 11, 2008
It does kind of read like stereo instructions. I'll re-write this one asap, make it a little more legible.
Thanks Anna
Burton A. Thompson Jul 26, 2008
Well constructed. What is your source?
Jes Sep 18, 2008
People dont know how to play a real game of poker like in the good old days anymore. I have "general rules" that specifically state that after the last bet or the last check has been made after the river card (for Holdum), ALL players that hadnt folded at that point have to show their cards. This deters team poker...(somebody folding a hand in the showdown to their parter when the know they had won). I see in "rule #5" under showdown, it says that it is a "privilege" that can be "abused" ... which everybody may have a different inept opinion on. When a player folds BEFORE the "showdown" , their hands should NEVER be revealed.
Sean Lind Sep 19, 2008
Jes: "a real game of poker like in the good old days"
I'm going to have to highly disagree with you here. As I explained in a blog I wrote it's never under any circumstance ok to look at a hand folded before the final bet.
As for hands after all play has been concluded, it was in the old days that you never asked to see someone's mucked hand. What a player chooses to do with their hand is up to them.
Your Google Toolbar can fill this in for you. Select AutoFill Dec 26, 2008
What are the circumstances that a player who lost his money in and left the table in a poker game be allowed to rejoin?
Sean Lind Dec 30, 2008
Unless there are house rules, typically the way it works is like this:
In a tournament you can only re-buy the allowed number of times. Typical tournament structures are:
Freeze-outs (one single rebuy per player)
Single-Rebuy
Unlimited Rebuy (until a pre-decided cutoff point)
In a cash game, typically a player can rebuy as many times as they like. If they leave the table, and do not request their seat to be held for them, they are treated as a new player when they come back, meaning they must make a full legal buy-in when they sit down.
Most poker rooms allow a player remaining at the table to make one short-buy (re-buying for less than the minimum allowed buyin amount)
jd Jan 2, 2009
question:
player in "bughouse" shows his hand to table by mistake, quickly turns back over. this occurs just after bidding but before everyone has chossen if they are going high or low.
is the hand disqualified??
Sean Lind Jan 2, 2009
jd: Firstly, I've never heard the term "bughouse" before, but since it's a position I guess it doesn't matter. Out of curiousity what position is it, and where does the expression derive from?
as for your Q, it sounds like you're playing a Hi-Li Declare game, I've never heard of such a game being spread in a cardroom or casino, just at homegames. Thus the rule on live vs dead hands will be up to the host, but typically the rulings go like this:
Private games, a flashed hand is always live. It puts the player at a disadvantage in the hand, and therefor there is no reason as to why they shouldn't be allowed to play.
Casino Games: In casino's that have a "No Angling" policy, then general rule on a flashed hand is that it's dead. BUT, if a hand is deemed to be flashed accidently, they hand is typically allowed to play, only if the flash was in an attempt to angle, or done on purpose will the hand be killed.
There is no 100% firm rule on this, but typically you'd be considered an unreasonable dick if you had the hand killed.
mark Jan 23, 2009
In texas hold,em after the flop Idiscovered I had three cards in my hand
Sean Lind Jan 23, 2009
Mark. If a player reaches the flop or further with more than two cards in thier hand, their hand is considered dead, and is mucked. The pot plays out normally for the remaining players.
Jes Feb 4, 2009
What it boils down to is that there is allot of confusion on who shows their cards first in the actual showdown. One set of rules says that the players start from the dealer and go around the table clockwise... what if somebody goes out of turn here? Other players can "muck"/FOLD their hand when in the rules they should have shown. This is an inconsistent and inadequate rule. The other rule states that it is the last better who shows their hand first.. what if both people at this point "muck"/FOLD their cards?(could be an accident, could be collusion) Just to end the confusion and stupidity: EVERYBODY that is in the showdown should have to show their FULL hand, and if you get caught bluffing, grow some balls! If you muck your hand in after the showdown people will know that you were probably bluffing anywh0.
Sean Lind Feb 5, 2009
Jes: Too many live players are making mistakes on this, becoming self-righteous slow-rollers. At showdown, if you believe you have the best hand, you should immediately say what you have, or show it. If the last action was made by your opponent (meaning they bet the river, and you called) they are entitled to show first.
If you don't know if you won and don't want to reveal what you're playing, it's up to them to call their hand, or show it. It is against the rules to knowingly state you have a better, or worse hand than you actually do (everyone makes mistakes sometimes).
If no one bet on the river, hands open in order, starting from the small blind, ending at the dealer.
If you have the winning hand, you should always show it immediately, even if the other player is supposed to show first. Waiting to see their hand with the obvious winner is slow rolling, and is very frowned upon.
What you do with your hand is up to you, what your opponents do with theirs is up to them. Mucking a losing hand is your right as a poker player. Even if it's your time to open first, you can choose to concede the pot and muck if you please.
If both players muck at the same time, and there is no live hand left (and the dealer can not say with 100% certainty who's cards are who's) then the pot is chopped.
FRAN Mar 3, 2009
I'VE BEEN PLAYING POKER FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I ALWAYS LEARNED THERE WERE NO MISDEALS IN POKER. THE GROUP I PLAY WITH NOW CALL A MISDEAL FOR ANY ODD REASON, SOMEONE HAS 1 TOO MANY CARDS, SOMEONE IS SHORT A CARD, ETC. I THOUGHT EACH PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE TO WATCHING HIS OWN CARDS. ALSO OTHER RULES ARE MADE UP AND LOTS OF TIME IT TAKES AWAY THE FUN. SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO PLAY POKER ANYMORE SO IT'S HARD TO FIND SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH. YEARS AGO WE PLAYED FRIENDLY GAMES-1 BET AND 2 RAISES-30 CENT LIMIT. OUT FOR BLOOD POKER ISN'T MUCH FUN.
Sean Lind Mar 3, 2009
Easy on the caps FRAN.
Anyways, if there has been "substantial action" meaning two players have acted already, then the hand has to play out, meaning a player with three cards, or one card gets their hand mucked.
If the dealer flashes two cards while dealing, it's a misdeal. Or if the dealer deals to the wrong players (such as the button being in the wrong seat). As long as less than two players have acted, it's a misdeal.
kevin Mar 29, 2009
If 2 or more players go out at the same time,say they both go all in,and loose to another player ,how do you decide who gets 2nd or 3rd place?
Sean Lind Mar 31, 2009
Kevin.
If three players (or more) go all in on the same hand, and the player with the most chips win (winning first place), second and third are decided by the amount of chips each player had before the hand started.
Before the final hand was dealt:
Player 1: 10,000
Player 2: 9,000
Player 3: 8,000
In this scenario, Player 1 wins for first place, player two takes second, player three takes third.
Brian Apr 11, 2009
If I went all in on a hand, and thenext player decides he wants to flip a single card to view my reaction (it would determine if he match my bet), is this legal?
Sean Lind Apr 11, 2009
Brian, the rule here depends on the cardroom.
Some places allow angling heads up (showing a card is textbook angling), while some places do not at all.
Also, even some places that allow angling have a rule that if you show one, or both of your cards your hand is dead.
As far as poker is concerned, this is absolutely allowed, it always has been and always should be. In private games you can do it, and I think it's a crime that some poker rooms won't allow you to do this anymore.
Brooke May 17, 2009
I'm new to texas hold em and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about rules regarding touching the community cards. Does this make the person that touched the community cards have a dead hand? I'm referring to home tournament games. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
Sean Lind May 19, 2009
Brooke, no no no no no no no.
There was one card room I know of that used to have the rule "If your hand touches the board cards, it's a dead hand". This was dubbed "The worst rule in poker" by... well everyone.
Here's how it works out. If you drop your hand on the board cards before showdown, it's a dead hand (as any cards dropped face down over the line (into the pot) is considered a fold.
If you are in the showdown, if you turn your cards face up, it's good and eligible for the pot. It doesn't matter what you do with those cards... you can put them on top of the muck, but if they're face up, it's still good. (as long as the dealer, or the other players clearly see that the two cards are the ones you had in your hand).
Robert Jul 19, 2009
If the dealer accidently turns over the turn card before players have bet, or one player has bet and the other players have not had the chance to call, what are the rules?
Sean Lind Jul 21, 2009
Robert,
In this scenario the dealer picks up the turn card, and re-shuffles it back into the stub. After the stub has been shuffled, and all betting is complete, the dealer deals the new turn (without burning, since the correct turn burn card is already down).
Bill S Jul 21, 2009
If a players bet is not called and no one remains in the hand but them, is there any situation were that player may have to show thier cards? Wheter it be tournament play or live action?
Sean Lind Jul 22, 2009
Bill,
If every other player has folded, and all of their folded hands are dead and mucked, there is no situation where you would have to show your cards.
There is a situation which causes confusion though; when after calling the final river bet, your opponent mucks their failed bluff during the show down.
Many dealers think that you need to show two cards to win a pot at showdown, and some poker rooms might rule this to be true even in this situation. But, there is no need to show your hand, since only a live hand can win a pot, and you have the only live hand left.
If the dealer wants to force you to show your hand, all you have to do is ask "Why, who else are you going to give the pot to?"
Frank Aug 26, 2009
You must protect your hand at all times with your hands, a chip or other object placed on top of the cards. The rule says that if the dealer kills an unprotected hand by mistake, you will have no redress.
What happens if the dealer kills a protected hand by mistake? And if they're not clearly identifiable?
Thanks!
Sean Lind Aug 26, 2009
Frank,
Everything you just said is correct. If a dealer kills a protected hand (or a hand of an all in player with no chips left to protect the hand) the player is SOL.
It's a pretty crappy situation, but there's nothing the player can do. You can't win a pot with a dead hand, and you can't take the pot away from a player with a live hand.
Sorry if this happened to you.
John R. Sep 4, 2009
Texas Hold’em, heads-up play, large pot, at the River card with my opponent having the option to bet. Through the Turn the board has been uncoordinated. I put my opponent on two high cards and was bluffing at the pot. At the time the River card was turned, and it was obvious that it did not help me, but could have paired my opponent – and before he could place a bet I turned my AK off-suit to him so he could see them. He became angry and claimed I had grossly violated all standards of poker, keeping him from being able to bet, and therefore my hand was dead and he had won the pot. He turned an AQ off-suit – the second best hand.
It is my understanding that there is no violation of any rules, procedures, or etiquette by deliberately showing my cards at time during the course of a hand. I don’t believe there is anything that would even prevent someone from turning their hole cards face up when dealt and playing them exposed throughout the hand – is there?
Sean Lind Sep 4, 2009
John,
You were heads up. When you're heads up you can show your cards anytime you like. This has always been a part of poker.
But, some poker rooms have made rules that make this illegal, and doing so will have your hand ruled dead. It's a horrible rule, but a rule none the less.
In real poker, show your cards as you please while heads up, it's no different then telling your opponent "You're going to want to check here, trust me". It's an angle, and angling is part of the game.
Just be sure you won't have your hand killed by asking the floorman what the house rules are for showing cards.
Ski Sep 27, 2009
A question and possible correction...
Question: Playing Texas-Hold-Em, before any action Player 1 accidentally picks up and looks Player 2's cards. I don't recall seeing this addressed anywhere. I ruled Player 1's hand dead and allowed Player 2 to use his own cards in the hand (the ones looked at by Player 1). Was that the best ruling?
Correction: In Hold-Em when the dealer prematurely flips up the 4th (turn) card you said "the dealer picks up the turn card, and re-shuffles it back into the stub". I believe Robert's Rules says to leave the burn card down, set aside the exposed card, burn and play what would have been the river as the 4th card. Then, the exposed card is re-shuffled with the stub and the 5th card is played without burning.
Thank you for all of the tips and your replies to the comments.
Sean Lind Sep 28, 2009
Ski,
As long as no one has acted yet, It's a misdeal.
As for the correction, you're absolutely correct. It's kind of funny, I answered that exact question on another article with almost the exact answer as you gave.Not sure why I forgot that little step in this one.
Thanks for noticing bro.
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