exposed cards

I was playing in a tourny and there was just me and one other in the hand after the flop he raised and i reraised him all in he then said ive got top pair on board and a good kicker but top pair was only a 7 and turned his cards and laid them on the table without making a call i said his hand was dead he then called my all in who was correct.

Meh, depends on the cardroom rules. If it was in a casino then just call the floor and make them decide, usually they will rule his hand dead. If it is a small home game then i'd let his hand stand, really in the interest of the game more than anything.

Certain house rules vary from room to room. Provided the player has not exposed his/her cards past the threshold (muckline), the hand is still active.

LOL failed angle shoot on your part? This should never, ever be ruled a dead hand IMO. Everybody's good friend Robert backs me up on that point.

Robert's Rules, Irregularities, Rule 12 (emphasis added):

12. Procedure for an exposed card varies with the poker form, and is given in the section for each game. A card that is flashed by a dealer is treated as an exposed card. A card that is flashed by a player will play. To obtain a ruling on whether a card was exposed and should be replaced, a player should announce that the card was flashed or exposed before looking at it. A downcard dealt off the table is an exposed card.

It's possible the player might get a penalty after the hand in a tournament but I simply can't see any justification for killing it.

thanks for replying i would just like to make it clear that he turned over both cards and both cards were over the muckline and he did not act till i said his hand was dead it was not a small home game not that that makes any differance i would just like to know the rule as playing to the rules is the best way to play.