If protecting my hand is my responsibility, what happens if the other player physically grbs my cards and looks at them. By your argument, I did not sufficently act to protect my cards, as I allowed another player to see them, so I am in the wrong.

'That's absurd' you are thinking. 'Of course if a player physically acts to grab your cards or compromise your hand, that is cheating and cannot be allowed.' The question then becomes a matter of where you draw the line. I draw it here-if you, as a player, make any intentional act that violates the rules or confers on you an unfair advantage outside the context of normal gameplay, that is cheating.

The fact that I as a player did not make it physically impossible for you to cheat does not mean that I am allowing or complicit in your cheating. I don't really understand how you think it does?

Lol, these comments are hilarious. I especially like the last comment about other players physically taking your cards.

Are you guys playing card games in
The Wild West?

No, Texas\Oklahoma border. But we leave our six shooters with our horses out front.

Not controversial, but incomplete.

Here is what I learned from reading all the crying on the thread about protecting your cards....

I'm never telling you. I'm keeping it to myself as an advantage!

I'm then going to announce incorrectly what I "put" you on to throw off my unethical behavior!

And then, after I stack your chips, I will say Good Game.

.

I'm not looking at the cards, I'm looking to see if he's acted. I can't help it if the cards flash and I'm not going to delay the game by looking away. I will inform the other players what I've seen and continue to see, at a minimum, or leave.

I keep a few fingers on my cards.
If I see someone reaching for them I cover them completely.
If someone manages to get my cards from me, we're talking physical assault.

That's the other end of the "what to do" argument. Most folks think you owe the player and the table at least one admission that you saw the cards before proceeding to your opinion! However , I and many others agree to do what you claim you do for any repeat of the flashing of cards most of the time. So both attitudes are likely un ethical at best, you are just doing it one hand ahead of folks like me!

I have read the rules, and I find nowhere an exception saying that assault relieves you of your obligation to protect your hand. Sure, you can file charges against the other player, but he didn't cheat, since you failed to protect your hand.

Obviously, this is a ridiculous standard.