What do you do when...

[The Armchair]

the dealer misreads the showdown and gives "your" pot to the second-best hand? What if the chips have already made their way into the other guy's pot?

[papawawa]

you better call the pit boss over IMMEDIATELY

[The Armchair]

But what's he going to do?

[MtDon]

The policy may depend on the casino.

1. If you haven't shown your cards and they have been mucked, you're out of luck.

2. If you've shown your hand and it hasn't been mucked, then call the dealer's attention to your hand. You should get the pot. The floorman may need to get involved if the chips are mixed up in the other player's stacks, to determine how much was in the pot. Some places where I've played, and when the pot is small, the house will let the 2nd best hand keep the chips, and give the best hand chips from the house.

3. If you've shown your hand and it has been mucked by the dealer. Then let the dealer know right away, tell the dealer what your cards were, and if you know where they are in the muck pile, tell him. In the card rooms I play in, if you can find your cards, you will get the pot. Definitely get the floor person involved if the dealer can't handle it him or herself.

4. If you've shown your hand and then mucked it yourself when the dealer gave the pot to the other player. This is probably less good for you, but try the same procedure as for when the dealer mucked them.

[The Ocho]

I punch the dealer in the face, then climb over the table and annex all of the other guy's chips into my own stack. If that doesn't work I then call the floor, and hope the other players at the table saw the action/hands involved in the showdown.

In the end, hopefully I've learned my lesson: never let the dealer touch my winning hand until they've shipped me the pot.

[baggins]

[ QUOTE ]
I punch the dealer in the face, then climb over the table and annex all of the other guy's chips into my own stack. If that doesn't work I then call the floor, and hope the other players at the table saw the action/hands involved in the showdown.

In the end, hopefully I've learned my lesson: never let the dealer touch my winning hand until they've shipped me the pot.

[/ QUOTE ]

He's right, minus the violence.

You Must Remember:
ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR HAND. do not let it be mucked until you are sure you are beat and satisfied that your hand doesn't entitle you to any more chips than it already has.

Don't flip your cards over near the dealer. flip them over in front of you. preferably, keep at least one of your hands or your finger on your cards until the pot is shipped to you or you are satisfied that you are mucking a loser.

[Cazz]

I like to use the "trade the cards for the pot" method.
I turn my hand over and keep a finger on them. As the pot is pushed to me I pick up the cards and hand them to the dealer over the pot.

The fact that you are protecting your hand is a good indication to the dealer that you think you have the best hand. If you are wrong, he *should* point out the better hand and wait for you to turn in your hand.

[The Armchair]

I think everyone is misunderstanding my question. (Probably because I asked a 10 word question!) There's no mucking involved.

Me) Flip over hand. Shows a flush.
Opponents) Flip over hand. Shows a set.
Dealer) Reads my hand, sees two pair.
Dealer) Reads other hand, sees trips.
Dealer) Pushes chips to opponent, mixing in with his stack.
Me) ???

I've protected my cards, they're still face up in front of me. Heck, I'm probably screaming at the dealer at this point. I'd call over the floorperson, but what should I have them do? Comp me 10 BB? Figure out the pot-size retroactively and award it to me?

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

In your case, the minute the dealer starts pushing the pot towards the other player - YELL "Hey, I had a flush!!" and reach out to physically stop him from pushing your chips to someone else.

[Al_Capone_Junior]

simple. you NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER physically release your hand until you have:

1. been pushed the pot
2. been absolutely convinced that you are not the rightful winner of the pot

this is more important than what beats what.

If you don't protect your hand, YOU are the moron.

al