Rule Verdict

[Liverpool]

scenario: Im in big blind have not looked at my cards yet.

U T G calls next player raises 4x big blind.

Once that person raises, me (big blind) proceeds to look at my cards only to realise i have been dealt 3 cards.

I then announce that i have been dealt 3 cards, what is the rule in this situation???

Is my hand dead now, is it a miss deal what happens?????

[Garth Kay]

Your hand is declared dead and play continues as normal. Action has taken place and noone elses shall be jeapordized.
In this scenario at a casino your hand would also be declared dead as you need to announce the misdeal before any voluntary action takes place.

[Liverpool]

That is unfair as i didnt know i had 3 cards til action had started. Shouldnt it be up to the dealer to be aware that he has dealt right??

As many players on BB dont even look at their cards til its time to act, as u wanna get reactions etc.

[Garth Kay]

Causes for a misdeal, from Robert's rules and also the NPL rulebook:

2. The following circumstances cause a misdeal, provided attention is called to the error before two players have acted on their hands.

(a) The first or second card of the hand has been dealt faceup or exposed through dealer error.

(b) Two or more cards have been exposed by the dealer.

(c) Two or more boxed cards (improperly faced cards) are found.

(d) Two or more extra cards have been dealt in the starting hands of a game.

(e) An incorrect number of cards has been dealt to a player, except the top card may be dealt if it goes to the player in proper sequence.

(f) Any card has been dealt out of the proper sequence (except an exposed card may be replaced by the burncard).

(g) The button was out of position .

(h) The first card was dealt to the wrong position .

(i) Cards have been dealt to an empty seat or a player not entitled to a hand.

(j) A player has been dealt out who is entitled to a hand. This player must be present at the table or have posted a blind or ante.

[Garth Kay]

And from the irregularities section:

9. If you play a hand without looking at all of your cards, you assume the liability of having an irregular card or an improper joker.

[Garth Kay]

And finally:

DEAD HANDS

1. Your hand is declared dead if:

(a) You fold or announce that you are folding when facing a bet or a raise .

(b) You throw your hand away in a forward motion causing another player to act behind you (even if not facing a bet ).

(c) In stud, when facing a bet , you pick your upcards off the table, turn your upcards facedown, or mix your upcards and downcards together.

(d) The hand does not contain the proper number of cards for that particular game (except at stud a hand missing the final card may be ruled live, and at lowball and draw high a hand with too few cards before the draw is live). [See Section 16 - “Explanations,” discussion #4, for more information on the stud portion of this rule

[Garth Kay]

So the ruling is that it is the player's responsibility to protect their hand and bring attention any errors to the TD or dealer's notice before two player's act voluntarily.

Once two players act, after an error has occurred, this is called "substantial action" and all errors are void.

[bennymacca]

he didn't play his hand blind, he waited till it was his turn to act before looking. is this really playing a hand blind? sometimes people call before you can blink your eyes, and even if he did look straight away, that is plenty of time for 2 people to call.

i agree it should be a mucked hand, but its pretty damn stiff on the person in the BB.

what if it was possible to determine which card was misdealt? i.e third card on top. can that be played as the burncard for everyone to see?

[Des]

if u dont wanna check your cards till its your time to act, you should always check you have 2 cards

[Garth Kay]

Nope. Notice that all pros always handle their cards even though it is no their turn to act.
You don't have to look at them but you should at least protect your hand and alway make sure you have the correct amount of cards.