rules

Misdeal

A deal that has gone wrong badly enough that the hand is void and the cards are re-dealt. Exposed cards during the deal, cards dealt to a seat with no player, a deck found to be wrong, or the deal starting in the wrong position are the usual causes.

Example. Two cards flashed on the first pass and the dealer called a misdeal before anyone had acted.

A misdeal resets the hand: cards are gathered, the deck is reshuffled and the same button position deals again. Chips already posted as blinds stay where they are.

The important thing for a player is how narrow the window is. Once meaningful action has taken place - the first bets made - most house rules say the hand stands and the error is corrected some other way. A card exposed by the dealer after that point is typically replaced, with the exposed card becoming the burn card, rather than the whole hand being thrown away.

This is why a player who notices something wrong should say so immediately rather than after seeing their cards: the remedy that exists before action is unavailable afterwards.

Related terms

Full glossary

Burn card

A card discarded face down by the dealer before each community card is dealt. It is a security measure, not a …

Muck

The pile of folded and discarded cards, and the act of folding or throwing away a hand without showing it. Onc…

Blinds

The two forced bets (small blind and big blind) posted by the players to the left of the button before any car…

Calling the clock

Asking the dealer or floor to put a time limit on an opponent who is taking too long. Once granted, the player…

Dead button

A button placed in front of an empty seat, so that the blinds advance correctly even though no one is on the b…

Dealer's choice

A format in which whoever holds the button picks the game for the next hand or the next orbit. It is the oldes…

Flop

The first three community cards, dealt face up together after the first betting round. Most of the important d…

Forward motion

The principle that a single continuous movement of chips toward the pot is a binding action. One push forward …

Frequently asked questions

What counts as a misdeal?

Common causes are cards exposed during the deal, cards dealt to an empty seat or the wrong player, the deal beginning out of position, or an incorrect deck. House rules set the exact list.

Can a hand be a misdeal after betting has started?

Usually not. Once substantial action has occurred most rooms let the hand stand and correct the error another way - for example by replacing an exposed card and using it as the burn card.

What happens to the blinds in a misdeal?

They stay posted. The cards are collected, the deck reshuffled, and the hand dealt again from the same button position.