When players misread their hand

[donkeyradish]

Friday night a guy misread his hand on 2 occasions and I pointed it out to him, on both occasions he underestimated it. (e.g. We were playing Omaha/8 and the board had more then 3 low cards which can sometimes confuse people).

We have this rule called "let the cards talk" which is designed to be kind to players facing that situation (the guy hadn't played Omaha/8 too often). So I felt obliged to point out his mistakes.

But now I'm feeling a little guilty that the 2 players he had to split (large) pots with, each lost money because of my actions.

'Roberts Rules' put more onus on players to declare their hands properly (but we don't use these rules)

Any thoughts?

[Big Country]

If your rules say cards speak, then nothing wrong with what you did, IMO.

[wallopp]

In my home game I also use the "cards speak" rule to avoid any confusion or resentment between players. If the rule was well known by everyone then it was not only your right but your duty to point out the winning hand so I wouldn't feel guilty about that. The only time I play were the player calls his own hand is in games like midnight baseball where you roll your own cards until you beat the person before you, then state your hand so the next player knows what to beat.

[gojacketz]

You were correct in pointing it out.

A lot of players will just turn over their cards and as you say "let the cards speak".

With no dealer, you have to choose a rule and stick with it. Declare or let cards speak...

Gojacketz

[tubbyspencer]

Not only were you correct to point it out - it would be wrong to let it go - if you noticed it.

Also, you can think of it this (more cynical) way: You don't want a fish who can't even read his own hands - never mind others - to leave your game. But if he ever figures out later that he really DID win that pot - and everyone else let the hi side take it - he may never come back.

[schwza]

you should play as you do, if for no other reason to avoid idiotic situations like someone declaring "i have aces" with a paired board and the next guy saying "ok, i have kings up so i win."

[top2pear]

I agree that you are obliged to point it out if the rule is "cards speak" and you see somebody misreading their hand.

I was the beneficiary of such a hand (coincidentally?) on Friday night in a hand of Omaha/8 where the guy to my left (who'd folded on the flop) informed me that not only did i have the nut-high but i also split the low end. He said he felt bad about it, the guy who lost a quarter of the pot was obviously a bit miffed, but everyone (except the two of us "winners") said it was the right thing to do. We never stated that the house rule was "cards speak" but i had called/dealt the game and specifically said "cards speak"--thinking i was helping out the guys who don't play non-wild-card poker much. Turns out i helped myself quite a bit by saying that and by the host pointing out my error.

Does it work like this in casinos too? If a dealer misreads a hand and a non-involved player points out the mistake, i'm sure the player who loses part of "his" pot doesn't like it, but everyone else at the table should.

[Felex]

You did the right thing. Cards Speak means exactly that. If the player doesn't see the top hand and you do, you need to speak up. When this happens in my home game most of us will "tip" the advisor a few chips in appreciation of the advice($1 or $2).

[prayformojo]

[ QUOTE ]

Does it work like this in casinos too? If a dealer misreads a hand and a non-involved player points out the mistake, i'm sure the player who loses part of "his" pot doesn't like it, but everyone else at the table should.

[/ QUOTE ]

It works this way at the casino where I play, and happens more often than you might think (though more often there is a dealer misread but the player read his hand correctly). I have never seen anyone get upset at losing a pot in this way. If you see the showdown, you have to have the best hand to win, pure and simple.

[chesspain]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Does it work like this in casinos too? If a dealer misreads a hand and a non-involved player points out the mistake, i'm sure the player who loses part of "his" pot doesn't like it, but everyone else at the table should.

[/ QUOTE ]

It works this way at the casino where I play, and happens more often than you might think (though more often there is a dealer misread but the player read his hand correctly). I have never seen anyone get upset at losing a pot in this way. If you see the showdown, you have to have the best hand to win, pure and simple.

[/ QUOTE ]

When I was playing 2/4 at the Orleans, I rivered a Str8 flush with my QJ of diamonds, but failed to notice that it was anything more than a Q-high flush. Consequently, I only went three bets on the river HU, and I almost mucked my hand when my opponent showed the A-high flush.

Fortunately, I "mucked" my cards face-up, and someone blurted out "Hey, he's got a straight flush!"

Unfortunately, I only received an ill-fitting baseball cap for this coup, rather than the $500 I would have received had this occured when I was playing earlier in the day at the Monte Carlo.