Showing Cards

[Burgers]

The rules of poker state that if you bet/raise and are called you have to show your cards. My first gripe is that people bet/raise, and then when called don't show their hands. (ie if one of the callers acts out of turn and shows a winning hand)

But my second and biggest gripe is the showing of cards without a showdown. If you win the pot in poker prior to showdown, then there are 2 options - show your cards or muck your cards. Where does this freestyle garbage come from where a player thinks that they have an option of showing only ONE of their cards?

I've played in various casino's, and I'm also aware of the poker format of games in other countries (like the Belagio at Las Vegas). If you do that in any respecitable casino, the dealer will say that you've indicated to show and turn over your second card.

Showing 1 card is not an option in no limit texas holdem, regardless of if you have been called or not.

[bennymacca]

i may be completely wrong here burger, but if you dont pay to see my cards, i can do what the hell i want with them. if u wanna see my cards, then chuck your chips in the pot.

not that its a big deal, but i have played in the adeliade and burswood casinos, and they didn't make me show my cards (might be certain dealers)

if its a showdown, then sure, both cards must be shown, but if noone calls, then they are your cards to do what u want with.

thats what i think anyway, but someone that knows more than me might wanna clarify this one

[BigPete33]

NPL and casinos have slightly differing rules, I think diff casinos even have some slightly different rules... it's mostly cosmetic stuff (like the showing of one card).

As far as NPL goes, if you have won the pot without being called - you don't have to show a card and if you want to show one/both of them then you can. Just be sure to show everyone at the table.

If you have been called (or are the caller) then it's 2 cards to win the hand and like it.

[Nevah play JJ]

I never have a problem showing my cards and will often still show my cards even if everyone else has folded.

Mind you I don't bluff, I guess that the non-show is pretty much part of a bluffers game. I would rather a player know I had a hand worth betting on and having them play a steady game, than getting a steam up and betting radically and being on the tilt, which only ever seems to beat me each and everytime.

Having said that, why do you need to see both cards if you know at least one has beaten your hand? Isn't it really only one that needed to win?

Maybe it an etiquette thing?

[BigPete33]

Because it's in the rules therefore that's what we'll all be doing


I advise against showing your cards at all unless you have to for a showdown (as opposed to a hoedown like you have down sowf hehe). The less info you give the other players about what kind of hands you play the better it is for you, doesn't matter if you choose to bluff or not.

[Des]

If you are not called and you win your hand without showdown you can do what you like.

- show no cards, just muck them and take the pot

- show 1 card, giving off a some information

- show both cards, giving off more information

The "show 1, show all" rule is in regards to showing another person one or both of your cards. If you show 1 person, you have to show all. It has nothing to do with showing 1 card or 2.

To win a pot at showdown, you have to show both cards.

[Nevah play JJ]

Thanks for the advice about showing cards Pete, I will take that on board. Not sure it will change what I do, but I will certainly consider it.

I should have also stated for the record that I do not only show one card, I do show both, so in that regard I also follow the rules.

I guess the remark
"Having said that, why do you need to see both cards if you know at least one has beaten your hand? Isn't it really only one that needed to win?"
Was meant more as a written out thought rather than an attempt to encourage rule breaking.

[Bacon]

My first gripe is that people bet/raise, and then when called don't show their hands. (ie if one of the callers acts out of turn and shows a winning hand)

This makes a point, and something I do when I'm in a showdown.

Even if I have the winning hand, I will wait until the person who started the betting has shown.. If they say to me "what have you got?" I'll always say "you opened the betting, you have to show first" or words to that effect.

[Garth Kay]

Just a quick one.
To claim a pot as the winner of a hand, both cards must be displayed.
If action has ceased the only live player remaining can disclose any amount of cards.
AT THE MOMENT!
WSOP tournament rules will change this year so that if any players wish to openly reveal their hand BOTH cards must be displayed at any point in time or in any scenario.

Rules of poker do vary slightly from casino to casino even more so for cash games rather than just tournament rules.

[bennymacca]

if that rule comes into NPL (which i am sure it would if WSOP adopts it), what would be the penalty for showing a single card when you are not called to a showdown?

i suppose it would have to be time penalties, cant really take the pot off the player