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You are the Tournament Director Series 3: Player Leaves Table When All In

Playing a cash/ ring game I had bet in late position on the flop and one of my opponents called a fraction of my bet all-in. A couple more players called but folded when I bet again on the turn leaving only myself and the all-in player remaining. My opponent who was all-in had left the table after putting his chips in and his cards were unattended. The river was dealt and I turned over my hand. My opponent's cards were then mucked and I took the pot uncontested. I felt this was unfair as my opponent had paid to call all-in, was this the only option available to the dealer though or could he have turned over the player's cards himself or waited for him to return to the table? The player did not as far as I know make the dealer aware he was leaving the table when he did.

Comments please…

Matt Savage:
Players must be at the table to turn over their own cards in a live game. Again in a tournament the cards would HAVE to be turned face up. This player would learn a lesson the hard way if he indeed had the winning hand.

Thomas Kremser:
A player who is not at the table can’t win a pot because he can’t turn over his hand (he can’t muck either). By standing up from the table and walking away he gives up the right for the pot and his cards should not be mucked.

Dave Lamb:
Due to his self-imposed absence, the cards have been abandoned and the players’ action indicates surrender. I would not allow the dealer to turn the cards up in a cash game. The player needs to be present at the showdown to claim the pot.

Jeff Leigh:
The players cards are HIS responsibility. He should remain at the table until the hand is concluded. He has no re-dress in this situation.

Jack Effel:
In a cash game, I would have made the same decision. The hand was abandoned. In a tournament, both hands have to be turned up once all players are all in. In a cash game, the dealer is never allowed to turn a player’s cards over unless the player starts to turn them up and one card flips over; however, in a tournament I would have the hand tabled to avoid any chance of chip dumping.

Thomas Lamatsch:
There is no All In protection in cash/ring games. As soon as the player is leaving his seat without comments, the dealer is responsible to muck the cards of the player and/or ask the player if he wants to fold his hand!

The Mob Verdict

Looks like our six Tournament Directors are in agreement with this one. In a cash game the absent player’s cards are mucked and in a tournament they are turned over at the moment the pot goes heads up with no more betting. As Jeff says a player’s cards are their own responsibility and no one else’s.

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