Showing cards before hand is over?

At our local game, we try to run things pretty much by casino rules, regarding showing hands down, etc. However, we play no limit a lot, so often two players are heads up, and player A has just gone all in. Player B now has to call or fold. There are some players in this position that, presumably because they think it cannot affect the outcome of the hand, will flip up their hand to show the table while debating the call. Of course we can make any house rule we want, but I have continually argued that player B should not be able to expose his hand to player A before the hand is over, because it exploits a weakness of player A if he has a terrible poker face and will give away whether the hand beats him . I know this is illegal in tournaments, but can anyone tell me the rule in traditional live games? Can a player expose his hand purposefully at any time? Is the rule different for structured as opposed to no limit? Thanks for any info anyone has.


~Magic Man

If the player can do nothing but close the action I think it should be permissable since it cannot effect any decisions. If the betting player is scared of giving a tell he can turn his chair around and face the other way until the decision is made. It should however, just be something you all agree on.


Regards,


Paul Talbot

In the tournaments I ran, it was only a foul if it affected the action.


Since, in this case, it doesn't, there is absolutely no harm to the integrity of the game.


Trying to elicit tells is a big part of no-limit. The exposing player is doing nothing wrong. If the inexperienced player can't control himself, I suggest sunglasses, a walkman, and a blindfold for those all-in situations.


Bobby