Folding face up?

[holdemholmes]

Here's the situation: Player A bets, Player B raises all in. Player A thinks about it,  and does not verbalize any action, but throws the cards face up in the middle of the table. Right after doing so, the player says I fold. Is this a house rule decision as to whether it can be viewed as a call, since the cards were turned up before the player said I fold, or should this always be a fold?

[Martini]

I would rule that as a fold. Verbal is binding. If he wants to fold face up that's up to him but his cards don't speak after he says that he folds. If he threw his cards out face up then said "call" I would allow that as long as his cards are clearly identifiable. I would also let him know that his actions were unusual and that he will gain no advantage from doing what he did and any marginal judgment calls will not fall in his favor.

[Wedge Rock]

Section 15 - Tournaments
22. Showing cards from a live hand during the action injures the rights of other players still competing in an event, who wish to see contestants eliminated. A player in a multihanded pot may not show any cards during a deal. Heads-up, a player may not show any cards unless the event has only two remaining players, or is winner-take-all. If a player deliberately shows a card, the player may be penalized (but his hand will not be ruled dead). Verbally stating one’s hand during the play may be penalized.

In a tournament, you can't expose a card (unless its heads up).  Flipping over your cards subjects you to a penalty.  Like Martini, the exposing player would not get any benefit from his action.  It might be a case where he doesn't realize that he's making a ambiguous action.  I'd explain to him why he can't expose his cards *before* he says fold.

[KPrather]

Many casinos I have been to will treat this situation as an automatic fold, regardless of intention.

[72]

Many casinos I have been to will treat this situation as an automatic fold, regardless of intention.

more like they will automatically declare the hand dead, especially if it's done intentionally to get a reaction and read on the other player.