Dear
Mark: I was recently playing in a tournament, and
I was on the button. The cards are dealt and the person
first to act goes all in with her chips (about 3,000).
The next guy to act re-raises her all in to 6,000
and everyone else folds. When it comes around to me,
I call the 6,000 raise, and when they get back to
the lady that went all in with her 3,000, she throws
her hand in. Another player at the table informs her
that she is already "all-in" for her 3,000
chips, to which she replies, "I don't care, I
cannot win." But, after some convincing from
the player, she asks the dealer for her cards back,
which he gives to her. When I asked if this was legal,
I was told it was because her cards did not actually
touch the muck pile, or another dead card. I thought
that the "act" of her throwing her cards
in was enough. Can you clarify for me? Eric R.
As
for casino Hold'em games, Eric, the rule is that "cards
speak." Your poker hand is what it is, regardless
of how you call or miscall it. Any verbal declaration
as to the content of a player's hand is not binding.
If she claimed that the hand is worthless, but in
fact she had a straight, her cards speak, and her
hand is viewed for its genuine value, that of a straight.
Her about-face was legit as long as her cards didn't
touch the muck, the pile of discarded cards in front
of the dealer, or another player's cards.
That said, I have seen a poker room manager foul
a hand of a player who continuously miscalled
their hands; but it's discretionary, and it did
correct the behavior.
Dear
Mark: I just returned from a stay at Harrah's
Reno where they were pushing a new game called
Blackjack Switch. The player must make two bets
of equal size and is dealt two hands. The player
then can switch the second card of each hand to
improve one or both hands before standing or hitting.
The catch is that a Dealer "22" is a
push, not a player win, and a player's blackjack
pays even money.
Gee,
why do I smell a trap here? Only the second cards
can be switched, the house doesn't lose when the
dealer busts with 22 (the player loses with 22),
and a player's blackjack is even money even if
dealt before switching. Was I right to give this
"opportunity" a wide berth? Mike H.
You're
not smelling a trap, Mike, but perfume. What is
considered cheating, that of trading cards between
two hands, is now legal for those who play Blackjack
Switch. Players must make two bets of equal size
and they are then allowed to switch the second
card dealt to each hand. For example, you are
dealt a seven and then a six on one hand, and
a five followed by a three on the other. Normally
this would give you a 13 and an 8. With Blackjack
Switch you can now switch the second card dealt,
the six with the three, and you now have two great
hands to double down with 5+6 (11) and 7+3 (10).
Granted,
Mike, a winning player's blackjack is paid even
money, and the dealer is compensated with a push
on 22, but, using perfect basic strategy similar
to, but -- due to the push on a 22 -- not exactly
like conventional blackjack, the house edge is
0.16% with six decks and 0.18% with eight decks.
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