A floor call I had never seen

[Rick Nebiolo]

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It is pretty rare that something happens in a poker room I have never seen. I was called to an Omaha game tonight because the dealer had flashed a player's card (no big deal it would become the burn), dealt around and instead of giving the button his fourth card he dealt it to replace the exposed card. I got to the table and there had been a raise and a call and the button pointed out he only had 3 cards. I won't mention what I ruled because that would alter the discussion, but I am interested in what others think should happen.

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I've avoided reading other responses and wonder if we come close.

Normally the button is the one player who can and should get his final card (when the dealer makes a mistake) even after action has taken place. In other words forgetting to deal the button is a very common mistake and correcting it is easy; simply deal him the card (rarely does this involve a floor call). Doing this doesn't "change the order" or affect anything and is seen as fair by most players. Also in a fast game with experienced players action often starts before the button gets the final card so the button would be at a disadvantage if he had the burden of identifying his short hand before we have "action" in two spots.

This case is different. In the real world we deal with superstitious players who believe that "keeping the right order of cards" (even if the "right order" is random and unforeseeable) is important and sacred. In this case the button had plenty of time to notify the dealer of his short hand. Since he didn't and the other player had "his card" I'd rule the button's hand dead. That way you only have one hand "out of order" rather than two and less potential chaos/arguments. (You can't rule the other player's hand dead even though he has "the wrong card" because he did absolutely nothing wrong).

That said, I don't feel that strongly about this and wouldn't argue with someone who felt that simply giving the button a fourth card is right.

~ Rick

PS My guess is you made the killed the button's hand based on something similar to my logic above.