Is it OK to say what you have?

[pfapfap]

I agree that in a tournament you need to tone that kind of thing down a bit. You can use a bit of bravado or whatever else, but it's best to err on the side of caution.

In cash game, though, I think you can get away with a fair amount. For example, last night in a drunken bar game, I twice hit top pair in big blind specials and just started chuckling and betting with full confidence. My demeanor was telling them straight out that my random holding hit that garbage board, and that I was fine taking the limps, but if they wanted to rumble, let's go. The second time, I think I even verbalized it a bit.

See, I think that's fine. Won uncontested once, chopped another time.

[Richard Tanner]

[ QUOTE ]
I say it's unethical because it is a tourney. In a ring game it would be fine. In a tourney different rules apply because each hand affects everyone else in the tourney, even if they are not at your table.

BTW, the reason this example is unethical is not because he spoke about his hand (which is perfectly fine) but rather that the rest of the table colluded with him so he wouldn't get knocked out if they hit.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is your answer. In a ring game, each hand is an independent trial and this kind of thing is fine. In a tourney however, not so much.

Saying "Please fold is fine" saying here's what I have (telling the truth or showing the cards) is getting a little boarderline, which is the way I voted.

Cody

[Small Fry]

[ QUOTE ]

... says "Everyone fold, please, i have the best hand and I'll show. I don't want to get knocked out. Fold

[/ QUOTE ]

Well first of all he did not have the best hand so he lied. Lying about your hand is actually allowed.

He's in a gray area since he didn't tell anyone what his hand was specifically, (ie. I have a 5 and 7 so you should fold. Or I flopped the straight) although saying he has the "best hand" does imply the straight. Of course a player with pocket Aces in that hand might have also thought he had the best hand. Or the guy who flopped a set might think he has the best hand. See the grayness. Saying "I have the best hand" leaves the door open for the opponents to interpret what that might mean. Does he mean he has the nuts or does he have top two and thinks it's just the best hand right now.

Personally, I have a hard time finding a problem with his action. I'm open to dissenting opinions though.

[Plazman]

I agree with most the people here. He didn't name his cards. That would be flat out wrong. He said he had the best hand, which, by the way, he probably did. When someone says they "have the best hand," I don't think it means they have the absolute stone cold nuts. I think they're saying they're confident that they have the best hand at the table. I don't see anything at all wrong with that, tournament or otherwise.

[HRFats]

The KQ spades should have stayed in. I would never fold just because someone told me to, especially the defending champion. I'd take the odds for a chance of knocking out the defending champ. Plus, he could have been lying...