What happens if the Dealer misdeals?

#1 07-04-2007, 1:44 AM

In out home games, the penalty for a misdeal by the dealer is that he pays the value of the BB to the pot. But that doesn't seem to justify misdealing during a hand with a big pot game. Examples of misdeal may include accidentally forgetting to burn a card before dealing the Turn or River. That information may be invaluable for one or more of the players on the table. So how do you solve this in your home games?

#2 07-04-2007, 3:19 AM

Just keep a 3# hammer beside you on the table.

#3 07-04-2007, 3:19 AM

We follow all standard dealing rules in the home games/tournaments. Robert's Rules of Poker is the generally accepted standard unless you WRITTEN specific house rules that apply. In that case they should be written or typed and posted for all to know and see.

Specific to your questions about misdeals or card issues...right out of Robert's Rules...

1. If the first or second holecard dealt is exposed, a misdeal results. The dealer will retrieve the card, reshuffle, and recut the cards. If any other holecard is exposed due to a dealer error, the deal continues. The exposed card may not be kept. After completing the hand, the dealer replaces the card with the top card on the deck, and the exposed card is then used for the burncard. If more than one holecard is exposed, this is a misdeal and there must be a redeal.

2. If the dealer mistakenly deals the first player an extra card (after all players have received their starting hands), the card will be returned to the deck and used for the burncard. If the dealer mistakenly deals more than one extra card, it is a misdeal.

3. If the flop contains too many cards, it must be redealt. (This applies even if it were possible to know which card was the extra one.)

4. If before dealing the flop, the dealer failed to burn a card, or burned two cards, the error should be rectified if no cards were exposed. The deck must be reshuffled if any cards were exposed.

5. If the dealer fails to burn a card or burns more than one card, the error should be corrected if discovered before betting action has started for that round. Once action has been taken on a boardcard, the card must stand. Whether the error is able to be corrected or not, subsequent cards dealt should be those that would have come if no error had occurred. For example, if two cards were burned, one of the cards should be put back on the deck and used for the burncard on the next round. If there was no betting on a round because a player was all-in, the error should be corrected if discovered before the pot has been awarded.

6. If the dealer burns and turns before a betting round is complete, the card(s) may not be used, even if subsequent players elect to fold. Nobody has an option of accepting or rejecting the card. The betting is then completed, and the error rectified in the prescribed manner for that situation.

7. If the flop needs to be redealt for any reason, the boardcards are mixed with the remainder of the deck. The burncard remains on the table. After shuffling, the dealer cuts the deck and deals a new flop without burning a card. [See “Section 16 – Explanations,” discussion #2, for more information on this rule.]

8. A dealing error for the fourth boardcard is rectified in a manner to least influence the identity of the boardcards that would have been used without the error. The dealer burns and deals what would have been the fifth card in the fourth card's place. After this round of betting, the dealer reshuffles the deck, including the card that was taken out of play, but not including the burncards or discards. The dealer then cuts the deck and deals the final card without burning a card. If the
fifth card is turned up prematurely, the deck is reshuffled and dealt in the same manner. [See “Section 16 – Explanations,” discussion #2, for more information on this rule.]

Here is a handy printer friendly version of the most current Robert's Rules of Poker. The nicer looking PDF format I found seems to be an older version 6 instead of the latest version 10. My suggestion is to read it in its entirety (it isn't that long) and to print it out and keep a copy or two handy for home games.

#4 07-04-2007, 3:48 AM

Misdeals should be treated the same at a home game as at a casino ..Hit a bad beat for 54k at casino on a dealers mistake so Thank god she followed the correct procedure .. Great post by Jack above also

#5 07-04-2007, 4:13 AM

Incidently, IN the most recent Card Player mag, there is mention that all the tourney providers got totgether and reworked those rules. However, there was no mention of just what they did.

#6 07-04-2007, 4:27 AM

Well seeing how Robert's Rules of Poker and the Tournament Director's Association are usually right in line with one another, my guess is that any real changes they make will be published. But really, those are the basic rules that have been around most for many years, decades, etc. There isn't much that can be changed about most of them, so I'd be interested to see what they think they came up with that is so much better. Could possibly be some small tweaks here or there, but a total rework is unlikely (but that's just my opinion).

#7 07-04-2007, 5:19 AM

Thanks for the clear-up JD. I think this resolution is better than the BB sized penalty

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