Mis-called hand at showdown.

[Captain Pedro]

Two players in the showdown,

P1 show his two hole cards and declares "pair of fours"
P2 shows his hole cards and before saying anything another player not in the hand says to P1
" no, you've got a straight, 2-3-4-5-6"

P1 says "oh yes, so I have" and claims the pot.

His 'pair of fours' would have lost the pot, his actual hand (straight) won it.

Was the non-playing player right to call the winning hand?
Should the dealer have called the winning hand and awarded it to P1?
Should P1 call of 'pair of fours' have stood and P2 won the pot?

The non-playing player who corrected P1 feels bad as soon after the hand P2 went out.

FWIW I think the dealer should declare the winning hand at showdown and award the pot accordingly, regardless of what the players declare themselves...

I look forward to hearing what should happen in the above scenario.

(BTW, Friendly home tourney, played by the same 8-ish players each week)

[austin5string]

Cards speak.  If the declaration did, then I'd just turn my cards over and say "Royal Flush" every time.

[Martini]

Cards speak. No matter what you say it is your best five card hand that matters.* The guy with the better hand should take the pot.

There is a point of etiquette that "Reading a hand for another player at the showdown before it has been placed faceup on the table." should not be allowed but that is a different situation. For example, in this hand if Player B showed a pair of Tens and the guy who thought he only had a pair of Fours was about fold but was stopped by another player who noticed he had a Straight then the above etiquette point would apply.

Once the hand has been tabled the dealer should award the pot based on hand strength alone regardless of what anyone says. If a mistake is made then IMO no one should have a problem with it being corrected.

* There is some fine print that goes along with this but suffice it to say that cards speak for this scenario.

[hayjamawas]

Cards speak.  If the declaration did, then I'd just turn my cards over and say "Royal Flush" every time.

this

[72]

yes, cards read. he didn't fold his hand nor was it mucked by the dealer. that's why you should turn over your cards at showdown to let the dealer read the hands to determine the winner.

last week i saw someone at the casino fold her full house because she didn't see it in her own hand, only the other player's flush. her neighbour pointed it out to her a second too late. cards were discarded face down and mucked by the dealer.

[Captain Pedro]

Thanks for the replies, the answer is as I thought, declaration counts for nothing...the cards never lie lol

[NotFadeAway]

That's why you show your cards if you have any doubt...