Home game rules for showing cards

[MathBabe]

I haven't been at the monthly "home" (really an office boardroom) game I used to go to for a while. Mr. MathBabe went last night, though, and there was apparently quite some discussion about when to show cards. I thought it was pretty straightforward - you're called, you show - but I guess some strange scenarios can come up, and there was one player in particular who felt they were being asked to show their cards more often than they needed to.

Here are the rules I saw proposed today, by the organizer, who is by no means a poker expert:

1) "A player must show all cards in the hand face-up on the table to win any part of the pot."

2) "If everyone checks (or is all-in) on the final betting round, the player who acted first is the first to show the hand. If there is wagering on the final betting round, the last player to take aggressive action by a bet or raise is the first to show the hand."

3) "Any player who has been dealt in may request to see any hand that is eligible to participate in the showdown, even if the opponent's hand or the winning hand has been mucked. However, this is a privilege that may be revoked if abused."

1 is obvious, and 2 seems to cover almost anything else. But what is up with 3? If I was dealt in and folded early, I can request to see the cards of someone in the showdown who didn't contest the pot?

Does anyone else play home games that work this way? How would you define "abusing the privilege"?

MathBabe

[Zybomb]

Technically 3 is correct.

Any hand that goes to showdown CAN be asked to be revealed by a player IN THE HAND before it is thrown in the muck. Once cards are thrown in the muck however, they may not be interfered with. The technical reason for this (being able to see players who went to showdown's card) is to check for collusion -- and most card rooms will revoke your privledge to do this if you are asking each and every time -- although you technically do have a right to. That's why online, if you are in the hand, you can see a players mucked cards by checking the HH if he went to showdown.

[Robbie Robb]

The rules you listed are what seems to be considered the "official" rules for showdown. Our home games play it a little more simply: The person to the left of the dealer shows and is considered the "winning" hand until a better hand is shown. As we go around each person can either show their cards or muck. While not technically correct, the finesse of the finer points of the game is often overlooked so no one gets overly confused. Some of our players aren't the brightest bulbs in the pack...

[Talking Poker]

The rules you posted are pretty much correct. I'm actually surprised you need to have them though, and can't help but wonder how there was confusion about this.

If I make a bet and you call me, I need to show my hand in order to win the pot. If I choose not to, that's fine, but I am then conceeding the pot to you.

No player ever really HAS to show their cards - they simply need to get them into the muck before anyone asks to see them (which is a pretty tacky thing to do anyway, unless you suspect collusion, of course).

[MathBabe]

It's all people who work together, so it should be a very friendly game. However, it is a bit wild, and there are plenty of hands where there are still four players in at the showdown, where either everybody checked or several people are all in. It's not usually as clear as two people in the showdown, one calls and is beaten, and mucks. There's definitely curiosity, and I've heard people ask "well, what did you have, then?", and since it's friends it feels rude to say "none of your business". (Or my personal favourite, bdawg31 saying "oh, sorry, I don't remember".)

I don't really understand how it could be so complicated either, but I wasn't there. I hear that one person in particular complained that they were being forced to show their cards when they didn't need to, and they felt it was showing too much about their play.

Perhaps when it's friendly, people think they should be able to know what their friends did?

[Robbr25]

I know one game that was trying to say they only had to show one of the two cards.
I explained to them that if I call them, I am seeing both cards before they take the pot.