Ethical Question

[B-Man]

The game is 7-stud. Player A and Player B are both regulars who know each other well and are friendly.

Player A has two-pairs showing and has been betting throughout the hand.

Player B has three hearts showing and has been calling.

As the river card is dealt, Player B says to Player A, "If you have a full house, you win, otherwise you lose."

Player A bets. Player B calls. Player A shows a full house.

Player B says, "That was an ungentlemanly thing to do," and genuinely seems offended that Player A bet his hand rather than check. Player A says, "Do you think I was going to bet my full-house if you didn't say anything? So why should I have to check just because you decided to reveal your hand?"

Personally, I think Player A is 100% correct here. If a player wants to accounce his hand prematurely, he is doing so at his own risk. Of course, many players misrepresent their hand, which is a completely different issue.

Other possibly relevant information:

1. Player B often talks during heads-up hands, and will say things like "tens are no good," or, "if you don't have two pairs, don't bet," or something like the example I mentioned above. I have never seen Player B lie about his hand. He views this as "giving other players breaks," even though the opponent will often do the exact opposite regardless (perhaps the opponents haven't played with him for as many hours as I have and haven't noticed that he never lies... or think he is acting strong because he is weak). Whether or not he is really giving the other player a break, in Player B's perception that is what he is doing.

2. Player B has been running over the game for many months. He's not just running good, he is running out-of-this-world.

3. This is a high-stakes game.

[rkiray]

You and player A are totally correct. He shouldn't be revealing his hand. And if he does, he shouldn't expect a break because of it. And if he was running so good, why worry about losing one hand? Also is it really a break? Would Player A not bet because he feared a straight flush? I doubt it. In the person you describe, this probably isn't angle shooting, but I think it's close. I know Amarillo Slim and some of the other old time players hated playing in London where if you talk about your hand, it is disqualified. I think this is a good rule IMHO. It brings integrity to the game, and would put new players more at ease. Plus I believe Slim is a known angle shooter, and he complains about this rule in his book. Any rule that an angle shooter dislikes sounds good to me.

[Easy E]

"Does that mean that, if I check, you'll bet your hand so I know that I should fold?"

"Yes"

"Go ahead, then"

.... and then I'd checkraise his dumb butt.