You are the Tournament Director: Another Fouled Deck

The Situation:
In a seven card stud competition in Russia two players go to war and a big pot develops. Whoever wins this pot will be chip leader going into the final. At the showdown player A has an ace flush in hearts. Player B also has an ace flush in hearts. Player A’s next highest heart is the King whilst player B’s is a Jack. How do you rule and why?

Matt Savage Matt:
I would rule that it was a foul deck and therefore all bets would be returned to the players.

Thomas Kremser Thomas:
Any deck of cards that does not consist of the right 52 cards is not ok. The moment this is discovered, the last hand is a misdeal. Any hands played before are valid.

Jack Jack:
It is a fouled deck. I recreate the pot and give all players their money back.

Liam Flood Liam:
I’d split the pot.
Joe explains that it was Jac Arama with the AK flush and he got the lot.
Liam: Of course he did!

Mel Mel:
In all fairness the hand should be ruled dead and chips given back to players. Everybody will grumble at this ruling but it’s the fairest thing that could happen. Get a new deck and check all 52 cards.

Marty Wilson Marty:
I think I’d be on the mobile to Liam Flood and asking him – let him sort that one out!

The Mob Verdict

The last YATTD feature A Fouled Deck was a fouled deck in a WPT event with two three of spades.

All of our Tournament Directors agree here which is a little different to last time. Liam would allow the hand with the two identical threes to stand but here he would void the pot. Marty’s idea to re-start everyone with the same chips in the WPT event because it was in the early stages doesn’t apply here.

The reason we chose this question is because it is a true story (although none of the Mob or our TD panel were present). This situation actually happened in a poker room in a Russian casino and the player with the Ace King Flush was Jac Arama.

The most interesting thing about this is that Jac was awarded the pot. – He got all the chips. This is an example of a very bad ruling and an example of what can happen in a room where there are either inexperienced staff or a lack of consistent and regular rules.

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