Player keeps exposing cards, I warned him once, and a second player did also, whats my obligation?
Start of a new table, player to my right looks at his cards in such a way its very easy for me to see them.
After about an orbit of him doing it every hand, I let him know, he thanks me and for about 10 minutes protects his cards. Then goes right back to exposing them.
After a seat change later in the day, he is 2 to my right and the guy to his left lets him know, he keeps right on exposing them after a few hands.
WWYD?
3 Replies
1- I let him know right away (or perhaps after the second time, in case it was maybe a one time thing that you can just ignore)
2- I probably let him know again once he starts doing it again, and make sure the table knows as well so that they are aware I can see his cards too
3- I probably go out of my way to not look, particularly if it's an older person or someone who appears disabled in some way
4- If other people are taking advantage of it, I tell the floor, and let him know the player has been told repeatedly and seems unwilling or unable to protect his hand and it's giving advantage to specific people at the table and you do not think it is a fair game as a result.
Ideally the floor takes the player aside and graciously but firmly warns them that they need to protect their hand or else they will not be permitted to play. And then monitors the situation.
If they don't, you get to decide how you want to handle it. Leave the table, leave the room, play somewhere else, never come back, etc.
This has been a subject of discussion for years on this forum. There are three options. First you can let the person know they are showing continually so everyone knows. Second, you can let them know once (maybe twice) and if they don't stop, it is on them and you're free to take advantage of it. Third, you can say nothing and just take advantage of it. Generally, people who using their winnings to supplement their lifestyle or making a living will lean towards the third option while causal players will lean towards option 1.
I will always speak up the first time it happens. I will let the player know that I can see his cards when he looks at them the way he does. I also will sometimes make suggestions if it seems like there is a a way to help.
If it keeps happening I will keep speaking up every time it happens. Typically though I don't see the cards because I will be looking away so I don't.
If I see his cards and am playing my hand (or would have played my hand) I will ask for the Floor to come over and explain what happened and ask if I am required to let the other players know what I saw. In general the Floor will typically say yes. Because it is an unfair advantage. If it has happened more than once and if the player is not addressing it, I will also ask the Floor what needs to happen. It is possible that a Floor would say that it is on the player and when it happens just say what cards you saw. It is also possible that the floor will figure out a way to handle the situation. This has almost never happened in my experience. The one time it did repeatedly happen, the player quit the game because they couldn't look at their cards without holding them up off the table. I have played with players who have somebody sitting behind them who will look at their cards and then whisper to them what they have. Fortunately my hearing is bad...
Seeing another player's cards is not a tell, it is an advantage. If a player's cards are exposed by the dealer while they are dealing the dealer will turn it over and replace it (face down). Because it is a disadvantage for the player to play while other players know what they have.
Basically if a player can see another player's cards and doesn't speak up, it is unfair. However it could also be unfair to the player who saw the cards, especially when they have the nuts because it eliminates bluffs and the other player may fold knowing that his hand was exposed when he would have called down otherwise. So I do understand why players are hesitant to repeatedly speak up.
