Ruling Please . . . Is the Hand Dead?
 

Two players all in. Both players misread the hands and the pot is awarded to the player with the worst hand. The player with the best hand (who called the all-in) concedes defeat, leaves the table, and gets a drink at the bar. Several minutes pass, and the player who had the best hand returns to the table, where the other player has restacked the chips for the next game (it is a heads up tourney) and the cards have not been touched and are laying face up just as they had been when the players shook hands after believing that the game was over. The player who had the best hand says he had a straight and should have won. Both players look at the hole cards and the board and agree that pot was awarded to the wrong player. The player with the best hand, who had less chips than the other guy, recalls how many chips he had left to call his opponent's all in.

How should the tourney director rule? Does the answer depend on whether the players can reconstruct the betting before the all-in?

Re: Ruling Please . . . Is the Hand Dead?
 

It depends if your playing cards read or not. If ur playing cards read than the guy with the straight does win but if they must announce there hands than the original winner wins.

Re: Ruling Please . . . Is the Hand Dead?
 

The hand is dead. The pot was awarded and hauled in. Not that you needed anymore but one player left the table.

No it wouldn't matter if they could reconstruct the betting before the all-in.

Re: Ruling Please . . . Is the Hand Dead?
 

In my opinion if there is a dealer/director that can reconstruct the betting before the all-in, then there shouldn't be a problem with getting things set right (since the hands weren't mucked) But the reconstruction should not be based on what either player remembers. An unbiased source must be able to validate.

Re: Ruling Please . . . Is the Hand Dead?
 

There were no players at the table and the pot had a winner declared.
Hand's over IMO

Re: Ruling Please . . . Is the Hand Dead?
 

[ QUOTE ]
But the reconstruction should not be based on what either player remembers. An unbiased source must be able to validate.


[/ QUOTE ]

No unbiased source exists. There was no dealer and nobody else was watching the game.

Re: Ruling Please . . . Is the Hand Dead?
 

I think in light of the fact that there has been no action after the hand, both players agree that pot was awarded incorrectly that if the players can agree on the amount of the pot then pot should be returned to the rightful winner and play continue. think as a general rule if it is possible to award the pot correctly you should do so.

Re: Ruling Please . . . Is the Hand Dead?
 

The cards are still out there for all to view and verify. This is a home game. Yes, award the pot as best you can to the rightful winner. Cards speak, after all. It's not the cards' fault everybody was too drunk and/or deaf to hear them.

Re: Ruling Please . . . Is the Hand Dead?
 

Hand's dead. imo