EPT Cyprus: Controversial Poker Hand Sees Cards Retrieved from The Muck
There’s always at least one hand in every poker tournament that causes a stir, and this was no exception during Day 1a of the $2,200 Eureka High Roller at the ongoing PokerStars EPT Cyprus festival.
Merijn van Rooij and Maan El Hachem were the players involved in the hand which saw cards retrieved from the muck after an all-in and call situation. There was a lengthy deliberation by the floor, that also saw their initial decision overruled by EPT Tournament Director Toby Stone.
Mucked Cards Declared to Be In Play
There was around 60,000 in the pot on the 3287J board. Van Rooij announced all in from early position, and his opponent, El Hachem, called off his remaining stack of 17,200.
Van Rooij tabled his KK for a pair of kings. El Hachem kept his cards face down and pushed them forward, thinking Van Rooij had KJ for a flush. The dealer then placed his cards on top of the muck, where they were still easily retrievable.
“At all-in and call, it is the dealer’s responsibility to protect the player’s cards.”
El Hachem then realised that Van Rooij had just a pair of kings, and he could beat that. El Hachem said he had deuces, which was good for a set. The cards were taken from the top of the muck and turned over. It showed that El Hachem indeed had 2x2x.
The floor was then called over, and the initial ruling was that El Hachem’s hand was dead due to going into the muck. El Hachem and a few players at the table then said his hand should still be alive because when there is an all-in and a call, the cards should go on their backs.
The floor went to Toby Stone for a final say due to the grey area about hands going into the muck in this scenario.
It was the final hand of Level 10, and the decision was made during the break that marked the end of late registration. The original ruling was overturned, and it was declared that El Hachem’s hand was still in play. With that, he scooped in the pot.
“At all-in and call, it is the dealer’s responsibility to protect the player’s cards, so for this reason, the hand is still alive,” said Stone.
WSOP Tournament Director Andy Tillman also gave his thoughts on the hand and wrote on Facebook, “Completely the correct ruling. All hands must be shown in an all-in-and-call situation.”
“A player in a tournament is not allowed to fold their hand face down. So, as long as the cards are clearly identifiable and retrievable, the hand is turned up and hown. It’s the dealer’s responsibility to protect the game for the entire tournament and not let that hand be folded. Great call by Toby! I would’ve ruled the exact same.”
Click here to participate in this poll.
Sign Up to PokerStars for a $400 Welcome Bonus
New depositing PokerStars customers can claim a welcome bonus worth up to $400. Download PokerStars via PokerNews, create your free account and decide how much you want to deposit. Your deposit is matched 100% up to $400 as a bonus. In fact, your first three deposits in the first 60 days after making your first deposit are matched up to a combined total of $400.
The bonus releases into your playable balance in $10 increments each time you generate 180 redemption points, which in turn are earned at a rate of five per $1 contributed to the cash game rake or spent on tournament fees (6.5 points per 1, 5.5 points per 1, and four points per CAD$).
Tags
Related Players
FAQ
When and why was the double zero added to the American roulette wheel?
When and why was the double zero added to the American roulette wheel? The double zero was added to the American roulette wheel in the mid-19th century. The exact year is not clear, but it is believed to have been added around the 1860s. The reason for its addition was to increase the house edge, making the game more profitable for the casino. At the time, gambling was not regulated in the United States, and casinos were free to set their own rules and payouts.
What is the WPT global match bonus?
What is the WPT global match bonus? Our Welcome Match Bonus is one of the biggest ever offered as an online poker deposit bonus! We’ll match your deposit of up to a huge $1,200 as a warm welcome to our tables, whether you’re a cash game player or tournament challenger. 100% deposit match bonus – min $20 up to $1,200! get it use bonus code : wpt777
How much is the WPT diamond membership?
Who owns the WPT? In 2021 the World Poker Tour was sold to Element Partners for $105 million.
What are the Big Bass Bonanza multipliers for each retriggered 10 free spins round?
What are the Big Bass Bonanza multipliers for each retriggered 10 free spins round? The first retrigger gives the wild a 2x multiplier, the second retrigger gives a 3x multiplier, and the third retrigger gives a 10x multiplier on your wild.
When and where was the game of roulette first played?
When and where was the game of roulette first played? The game as we know it today first appeared in Paris in 1796, and quickly gained popularity throughout Europe, especially in the casinos of Monte Carlo. The addition of the zero by Francois and Louis Blanc in the mid-19th century helped to increase the house edge and make the game more profitable for casinos.
