Angle shooter

[jherky]

So last night at the free bar league tournament that I play in on some Fridays and Sundays, I had a certain hand come up.  I was about 44k in chips (blinds 3000/6000) and there were two limpers, I shoved with KJs (whether this is an optimal play or not is irrelevant).  I had pushed my chips towards the middle. It folded around to the guy immediately to my right. He had thrown his chips into the middle of the pot and was leaning over. I thought he had folded since I did not see his cards on the table. Well, I threw my hands to the muck. He immediately said “He mucked, I get the pot.” Well, he had been covering up his cards with his hands and I didn’t notice (my bad as I should have been paying more attention but whatever).  I saw my cards and said that I didn’t know he still had his cards since he had them covered up and I wanted my cards back. Well, the dealer started SHUFFLING THE DISCARDED CARDS and said too bad and shoved the whole pot towards the guy on my right. I called for the Tournament Director.

He was busy at another table and I tried to work out getting my chips back. Well, the dealer finally gave me some of my chips back, saying that he took out only 6000. I counted my stack and it was only 29k. The TD finally got over and someone explained things poorly. I tried explaining things but he said that once they touch the muck hand’s dead. I finally decided that, whatever, I’d accept that (Even though they say they follow Robert’s Rules and that they say if the cards can be identified then you should try your best to rectify the situation).

Anyway, I was still missing chips. I tried to tell the TD this but there were too many people talking and he walked away. I asked the table what 44 minus 6 is. Table couldn’t answer and just assumed my chips went to the drunkard on my left. Well, I saw the guy on my right take two 5k chips and add them to his stack from the big pot. Nobody listened. I was pissed and just shoved my next few hands. Went out.

Should I have done something different?

[djm182]

First, I hate Hate HATE it when someone conceals their cards as villain is doing here.  This happens ALL THE TIME in my homegame, but usually just results in someone inadvertently acting out of turn. 

I think the only thing you can really do here is just stand up, speak out, and loudly say "THAT'S NOT RIGHT".  Of course, that can be difficult to do when you bear some of the blame for what happened.  Still - and I don't know what Robert's Rules would say here - there is NO WAY you would have thrown your cards into the muck if you knew he was still in play. 

Angle shooter could also show a shred of class and say something to you as you muck the cards - to possibly nip this whole situation in the bud.

[sniperdawg]

pretty disgusting

[jherky]

Under Dead hands it says

2.  Cards thrown into the much may be ruled dead.  However, a hand that is clearly identifiable may be retrieved and ruled live at management's discretion if doing so is in the best interest of the game.  An extra effort should be made to rule a hand retrievable if it was folded as a result of incorrect information given to the player.