Showing Your Cards Before the Hand Is Over

[EasilyFound]

In a tournament, there are five players still in the tournament. In this hand, one player is all-in. The other player in the hand is contemplating a call. Is that player allowed to turn up his cards before deciding whether to call? I believe this is allowed in a cash game, but is it allowed in a tournament?

[Jack Bando]

99.9%-No.

Some tournaments do allow it (The NBC Heads Up Tourney) And if it's a home game, you could make it a rule before the tourney starts.

[SirPsycho]

Our games try to follow casino and large tournament rules as closely as possible. I think this helps when some of our players go to a casino run tournament for the first time.

To answer your question, no, this is generally not allowed in tournaments.

[EasilyFound]

I thought it pretty much was a no-no, and that is what I ruled. But when I looked at RROP, the section on this question was not clear.

[Lottery Larry]

[ QUOTE ]
In a tournament, there are five players still in the tournament. In this hand, one player is all-in. The other player in the hand is contemplating a call. Is that player allowed to turn up his cards before deciding whether to call? I believe this is allowed in a cash game, but is it allowed in a tournament?

[/ QUOTE ]

My understanding is that in a cash game, it's allowed, but tournaments it isn't.

I don't see why it should be allowed in either case, even if the exposer would be closing the action for the hand.

[EasilyFound]

I don't really have an opinion about the rule. I understand the reasons for and against. I'm not sure why it should make a difference whether it is cash or tourney, but the rule is, from what I am told by different people, different for cash and tourney.

[traz]

I think this issue is often up in the air...but my understanding is that it is allowed as long as there is no more action after that player.

[ShannonRyu]

For this reason, the answer should be NO:
there are half a dozen players, all but two fold, one guy goes all in, while considering calling the player shows his cards and the 'all in' player then flips his up assuming they won the hand. Showing your cards without declaration of a bet is a sign of folding. This has happend at my house. Players often will throw their cards on their back and then say "I can't call you" or "I bet I had the best hand" or even "I fold", but if they pause before speaking and then the other player shows his cards, the first player cannot then say "I wasn't folding". It sounds confusing but I think you understand my point.

[ShannonRyu]

also, we've had players try to throw their cards up, pause, then say "I call", using that splint second of time to read their opponents face (and possibly say "I fold" instead.

[ShannonRyu]

It's like string betting, the intention should be announced before an action is made.