My 'regular' dealer's choice game this week. We're playing 5 card stud, with a common and a replace. Hi-low, no qualifier.

With 4 players left, the dealer replaces the cards correctly (face-up or face-down) for players A, B & C. Dealer mistakenly pitches D his card face-up, when it was supposed to be face-down.

How do you rule?


Relevant RROP rules in spoiler.

Questions welcome, I'll let you know how we proceeded later.

FYI it's not in a spoiler. Easy rule though. D can be all in and not face the round of betting if he wants. Don't misinterpret the rule like someone I knew who though you had the option to shove your stack in. Treat it like they have no more money in front of them. However, they can bet/raise like normal if they wish.

Yes, now that I re-read it, it's worded a bit weird. FWIW, C&P from Robert's site.

No, we didn't allow the option for him to shove all-in. My understanding is the player could have all-in protection, that is, they could opt not to put in any more bets, but still be alive for the main pot, if others bet and created a side pot.

Yeah I know this rule all to well. I've gotten into many an argument with hosts over the ruling of this rule as it is worded very poorly.

Action stopped when the card was incorrectly shown face up, and virtually everyone looked at me. Although we don't play strictly casino (RROP/TDA) rules, I'm the most familiar and said that "In a casino", the card absolutely plays, and the player can take "all-in protection', not putting in another bet, but still playing for the main. I did add that as a house game we could declare that the player MUST take a new card, but that rule would be subject to ALWAYS being the case, not an option for the player.

After minor clarification and confirmation that everyone understood, the decision was to go with RROP, the player declared themselves all-in (not betting more) and lost the low end. No complaints, as they understood it was going to be their card anyway. It's possible that they could have bluffed with a down card, as I was the only likely high and bet the max ($5), with the obvious intent to re-raise if raised. He probably wouldn't have tried the bluff, as you need a crowbar to get some of our players off a hand at the river. Perils of home game limit. Nobody is going to fold unless they are chasing and completely whiff.