There are two players left after the river card has been delt. Player 1 bets and player 2 calls. Does player 1 HAVE to show his cards, since it's HIS turn and he got CALLED, or is he allowed to muck his hand ?
I always thought he had to show and that it was only the second player, or remaining players, that are allowed to choose either to show or muck.
This is regarding a home play Texas Holdem cash game.
This scenario will depend on the local house rules. What you are referring to is known as the "last aggressor" rule. Some places do enforce that and would say that since the person bet last, they should show first. However, it is my understanding that this is not universal - in parts of Europe, the last person to act (in this case the caller, not the aggressor) would show first. So it really all depends on the house rules. In your case of a home game, it might be a good idea to establish these rules at the onset so that there are no surprises.
Any player who has been a legal part of the game can ask to see a called hand, even if the cards have already been mucked.
If he wants to muck, he may attempt to do so and surrender the pot. But his opponents paid full price to see his hand, and they are legally entitled to see it, so they can ask the dealer to show the hand even if the player mucks. If the player actively tries to prevent the hand being shown, for example, by sticking the cards into the muck directly, he is cheating and should be penalized appropriately by the floorman.
You are not obliged automatically. It is common that someone bluffs, gets called and they muck the hand, and that is not against the rules. However the calling player can ask to see the hand and the request obligates the dealer to turn up the hand, if the hand is still available to turn up.
Related post: Can a bettor concede his hand without showing it?
I have been saying this for years... Back in the "good ole days" , you had to show at showdown no questions asked. But now there are so many poker cheaters and/or weaklings, that this mucking at the showdown is so commonplace that it is allowed. Lee D. Crocker is totally right on this issue. Well, if everybody started playing chess and that became popular out of the blue, they would omit at least one chess rule I am guessing as well (say for instance, they would just do away with the en passant rule because not that many people like that).
The "ALL IN" and later fold and Muck player is totally within his or her rights. When you forfeit claim to the pot, no further action is required of you! You have performed an abort and all following assumed actions are nolo! Your motivation to the point of the call is no one's business but yours since you have abandoned the quest of winning.....
I don't think you guys understand his question.
What he is saying, that he got a hand, probably a horrible hand (e.g 3,2).
But on the river (e.g.: A K 10 7 4) he talks first and he tries a bluff at and bets, but gets called.
Now almost any card will win against him, except, if the other guy also has 3,2.
(but There is no way the other guy called with 3,2 so he knows he most likely lost... and no point to show hand then)...
so he folds his hand, giving up the pot
(btw, if the other guy would call with 3,2. wouldn't that also be unethical!? to call knowing that you have 0% chance to win, and maybe like <1% to split, yet you call just to see the other guy's "potential" bluff to the table/not to actually win the pot, I think it would be just as bad etiquette, to call someone to only expose his hand, this means we can assume that he had better than 3,2 so it should be guaranteed that we lost, if the other player plays by the etiquette)
So Yes, I believe you can muck your 3,2 and give up the pot. I don't think, especally in a cash game, that you are obliged to show your hand.
(One exception, if people suspect a cheater, they may request dealer to see hand to catch a cheater)
But again, I don't think they can just "ask" to see your card, definitely not in a cash game.
Tournament may be different if house has a 'must show' rule or something.
Although ChatGPT disagrees with me, it said I can muck my hand even in tournaments:
"User can you answer poker rule questions? ChatGPT Yes, I can help with poker rule questions. Feel free to ask, and I'll provide concise answers.
User I'm first to act. I bet on river, I get called. Can I fold my hand or must I show it? ChatGPT In poker, if you're the first to act on the river and you bet, and then you get called, you have the option to muck (fold without showing) your hand. You're not obligated to show your cards if you fold.
User even in tournaments?
ChatGPT Yes, even in tournaments, if you're the first to act on the river, bet, and then get called, you still have the option to muck your hand without showing it. This applies to both cash games and tournament play.
Maybe it's feels bad etiquettem some peoples may think it, I don't.,
I believe I can muck (no matter who bet/call, or what action was done before)
I am just hobby player, not a pokerroom staff or amything, this is only my opinion. (and probably some poker houses rule too)
if ONLY two players. If I call you, YOU have to show me your cards, otherwise if you don't, YOU have MUCKED them and I win. How is this even a question. the question is does the person that CALLED have to show his hand. I say no he can muck. He gave the winner his money the winner needs no more information. AND D@#$%%^^& sure not the cowards that got out. They should never ever have the right to look at your hand They were too chicken to stay they should not enjoy any information FREE. i say no to any free information. So what if he did fold the winning hand. Collusion? I would be willing to let the winner say I bluffed or I won, fine. As long as he does not show it. to the others in the game. simple. Our little card game still aruges about it. I will listen a little while longer and as house, I will decide.
