Whether you are playing in a casino or at the dining room table, it is important to protect your cards at all times. Cards are dealt face down and should not be shown, purposely or accidentally, to an opponent until all betting has been completed. Players should cup their hands over the cards so only they can see when they are looking at them. The cards should not be picked up off the table. Cards should then be "capped" by placing a poker chip or other card guard on top of them. I memorize the rank and suit of my cards but it is ok to look back if necessary. You can see players do this by watching poker on tv or in a casino.
One of the best ways to get information in a poker game is when an opponents cards are reveled. You can review how the hand was played, knowing the cards involved. Players folding while there is action behind them should be careful not to expose their cards. Sometimes friends or players sitting near one another show their cards when they fold or when one of the players is not in the hand. The general rule is “show one, show all.” If I see this and want to know what the exposed cards are, I ask the dealer to enforce the rule. Occasionally, accidents happen. If you accidentally expose cards when folding while the hand is still being played, just say “sorry” and move on.
If I notice that a player is exposing their cards when they are looking at them, I generally tell them once. I say that I am not purposely trying to see their hand, but sometimes I happen to be looking in their direction and see their cards. It happens more than you might think, especially since I am following Poker Tip #1: Follow the action. It’s each players responsibility to protect their hand.
Live cards should be "capped" so they are not mistaken as dead cards and folded by the dealer. Also, if another player folds, touching your uncovered cards, the dealer can rule your hand is dead. I have seen this happen in large pots. The seats next to the dealer are most susceptible because players further from the dealer are folding towards those positions.
Example: At the Gold Strike in Tunica, an older man acting before me consistently exposed his hand while looking at his cards. I could look at him and see what he had before I acted during every hand. I quietly said to him that I could see his cards when he looked at them, thinking he would appreciate the information and protect his hand better. Later, he won a $1,000 pot with a KJ, making a straight. After the hand, I quietly said "good hand" and again told him I could see his cards when he looked at them. He grunted so I knew he heard me. A couple of hands later, I wasn't getting anywhere, so I informed the dealer.
I was in the middle of a big hand when the old man decided to reply by asking if he and I had a problem. He said he would call the floor man or we could just take it outside. He did so loud enough for the whole table to hear, and while I was playing a hand. As I am raking in my own $1,000 pot, I turned to the dealer, repeated that the player was repeatedly exposing his cards. I had told him multiple times, and I thought it would be a good idea to call the floor man.
I shouldn't have done this next part. It is out of character, but I do not like people who are disrespectful to other players and to the game. I have very few conflicts at a poker table, however the old man was not only wrong, he thought he could talk down to me.
When the floor arrived, I embarrassed the old man so thoroughly that anyone at the surrounding tables could hear. I said that it was unfair to all players for me to see his cards, he ruined the integrity of the game, and someone playing in casino for money should be able to protect his hand properly. I pointed out that I had politely said something twice and would not tolerate being disrespected by somebody who did not follow the rules of the game. The dealer concurred, and the floor man instructed the old man to protect his hand.
I wish he had not left within 15 minutes. I apologized to the table for running the old man off because he was the easy money you want to keep at the table. I wonder what would have happened if I had not attempted to be polite, and instead just played every hand knowing the old man's cards. I'm pretty sure I know the answer. Had he had stayed, he probably would have been separated from all of his chips.
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