Ethics Question

[Do You See Why]

The following happened a couple years ago at Oceans 11 card room in San Diego. I was thinking about it today and would like to know peoples opinions on what they would have done.

It was the 5-5 NL game(buy in $300-$500). At the time this was the biggest NL game they spread. It was around 4 in the morning and I had been playing for about 8 hours when the hand took place. Play was 5 handed and my opponnet was another young guy who had been there about as long as I had been. He had my $900 stack covered. I cant remember the exact dynamics of the hand but I had taken the lead on all streets and in the end had nothing but a busted str. draw. Board read something like AT872 and I held something like Q9. A flush draw would have been completed on the turn or river I cant remeber which. With about 800 in the pot I pushed for my last 500. He took nearly 5 minutes and finally called the bet. Without a word I turned over my cards and set them on the table. He sighed loudly flashed me an ace and mucked his hand. The dealer gave him a strange look and began to push me the pot. About 10 seconds later the guy relised that he misread my hand and protested saying he accidently mucked the best hand. The floor was called. Obviously the floor ruled that since he mucked his cards the pot was mine, but also added I could do as I liked with it.
What would you do?

[Floker]

Tough situation! Knowing myself I'd probably keep the pot. I'd not feel good about it, but I'm sure once again my petty selfish interests will prevail.

Once I lost an all-in in a tournament with AQ vs AK but the dealer misread the board and thought it was a split; no one noticed the error. After the hand someone said it actually wasn't a split, but I argued that the hand was over so I didn't need to give the chips to my opponent. Yes, I'm sad.

[GrandMelon]

uh keep the pot, its his fault for being a moron

[Taso]

lol, depends on my financial situation. If I'm in dire need of the money to pay off Big Tony before he breaks my legs, I'll take the whole pot. Otherwise, I'd probably split it with him.

[Donkey-Milker]

it depends on how much you need/value the money

[tarheeljks]

there is nothing unethical about keeping a pot you won.

[Jiganti]

He mucked. Take 'er downnnn.

[daryn]

i'd give him a chop, and feel good about it

[Turn Prophet]

[ QUOTE ]
there is nothing unethical about keeping a pot you won.

[/ QUOTE ]
QFT. You won that pot because he mucked, just as though he might have folded if he hadn't seen your cards. I don't see many people ask for their cards back if they've folded the best hand and I show them a bluff.

However, I should add that if you believe in karma, you should probably chop. Even karma doesn't demand you surrender the whole pot.

[SNOWBALL]

this is kind of iffy. On the one hand he mucked. On the other hand he showed one card. He didn't exactly table his hand, but he didn't exactly just muck either. Daryns's solution of choppings sounds ok, but I wouldn't call you a scumbag for keeping the whole pot.