What's your ruling?

[gaz]

We are in Gibraltar at the moment, and over a few drinks with Ozzie and Ange we were talking about situations in tournaments where a difficult (unusual) decision was made.This one I really like. It happened at Crown, and I think the decision was perfect given the situation.There are three players left at a final table. The button (player 1) moves all in and is quickly called by the small blind (player 2). The big blind (player 3) folds, but before anyone knew it, the dealer mucks player 1's cards. Player 1 is covered by player 2. So, what's your ruling?

[AJBlocker]

What's your ruling?AUSTRALIA BATTING!! Not out going down legside!!!ENGLAND BATTING!!!Plumb...see yaBlocker.

[danielg]

i assume that once the cards hit the muck they are dead and couldnt be retreived? even though it would be easy to do 3 handed.Prob call it a misdeal and start over?Dan

[gaz]

Cards are not retrievable. Mucked.

[AJBlocker]

P.Ssack the dealer....If player one cannot prove that they did everything in there power to protect his or her hand....then tough titties!If cards were taken from the player by dealer out from under a card protector or a chip or in a supposedly safe position you would normally consider not for mucking(eg behind chip stack or close to rail then the hand should be declared dead.Blocker.

[danielg]

Did the dealer get sacked?Dan

[Punty]

Im thinking either split the pot between the two remaining players or reshuffle and deal out two random hands and a board. I dont like it being called a misdeal because that seems advantageous to the big blind and I believe nobody should be advantaged from a dealer error if possible.I suppose the button is probably advantaged in my idea but its the best Ive got.

[Andre28]

I never like these situations. I dont like the stiffness of the mucked rule. If the player is able to exactly name his cards surely there should be a provision to retrieve them in this situation

[Punty]

The button is all-in, he cant muck even if he wanted to. You cant blame the player, it is clearly a dealer mistake whether the cards are under a protector or not.

[Poker Nut]

Once a player moves all in you would think that his/her cards are protected and not have to worry whether the dealer will make a mistake and muck his/her cards. Having said that, since there's only three players left and only two players' cards mucked, the right thing to do is ask player1 to name the cards he had and pull them out of the muck. ( we must remember that it was NOT the players fault for having his cards mucked so common sense should prevail)