Monday, March 20, 2017

An interesting ruling at the 'Shoe - one card poker, anyone?

Here's a rules question for the folks out there.  I don't typically post non-technical  / non-strategy posts, but the following ruling was such a freak weird occurrence that I'm not sure I'll ever see something like it again.

The setup:
A fairly chatty table, filled with a somewhat inebriated reg, who while acting over the top, is questionably falling on the floor drunk.  In other words, I think he's playing it up a little bit.  His act is working though, as the money is being thrown around quite a bit and raising or calling with 95o is commonplace.  People are getting coolered left and right -- tilt is evident throughout the table.  The subject in question is in for a buy in - perhaps a retired guy - maybe in his mid-60's.  He just won a pot to double him up, and I've been talking about the rule of poker where if you win a big pot, it's mandatory to play the next hand.  The subject is fairly tilted himself, being subject to both poor play and coolers

This guy is on the BTN in this particular hand and it has limped around to him.  He does not look at his cards, but puts out his $3 call and we see a 6 or 7 handed limp flop of A x x.  It checks around to a mid-position bet and folds to the BTN who looks down to check his hole card(s).  It is at this point that he says, “I only have 1 card!”

“Floor!” says the dealer, realizing the situation immediately.  What happens to a player playing only 1 card?  I’ve never seen this situation.  Floor rules that pending “significant action” which constitutes the many calls plus a flop, and action, the hand is dead on arrival.  I’m assuming the ruling is correct… and it aligns with the rule that a player must show down 2 cards to win a pot, so the hand is disqualified.  It seems to me that the ruling is only reasonable ruling in that spot – are there any other ideas of alternates?  I'm personally satisfied with the ruling, and the player in question didn't protest at all (although he had an Ace for top pair), but was curious as to different points of view.

6 comments:

  1. Just come back from Tulsa Hollywood casino, 1$-2$ NLH cash game button straddle $5, call, call, call button raise to $45, every one folds, button has only one card and pot is shoved to him. Ruled all other players folded hands and were dead.

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    Replies
    1. If he's the only with any cards, I think he's the winner by default. It makes sense, but I'm going to love playing with this player!

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  2. I'd guess that his hand is dead -- it's his responsibility to make sure he has two cards or speak up sooner. If I were the floor, I would give him his $3 back, however.

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    1. I agree that a $3 refund is in order.

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    2. The issue is twofold: he just won a sizable pot, so limped in blind. In addition, there was action and we saw a flop. I don't think a refund is in order in this case since he never looked to verify he had two cards.

      FWIW, I liked the guy; he was good for the game and a jovial fella. Regardless, he didn't mind not receiving a refund.

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  3. which hollywood casino? last time i was in tulsa in 2005, there was only the Hardrock outside town in catoosa and the river spirit closer to the main part of tulsa, none were hollywood affiliated

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