We have a rule regarding declaration in high-low split games which states, “The number of chips in a player’s hand will determine which way the player is going, even if he made a mistake and obviously intended to go a different way.” This rule was implemented years ago after an unfortunate event (the exact details of which are lost to history).
Tonight at the end of a hand of Wild Cards Going Both Ways, it came down to Mark DeVol and Jason. Each player took three chips under the table. Mark’s hand came up first and rested on the table. Jason brought his hand up, moving it towards the felt. Mark opened his hand to reveal three chips (going both ways). As he was doing this, Jason pulled his hand back (never having rested his hand on the table), turned his face away from the table, and said, “I didn’t see which way you went.” Jason then removed a chip from his hand (having initially put three chips in his hand), brought his hand back to the table, and revealed two chips (going high).
Mark had the wheel for low and a four of a kind for high, but Jason had a higher four of a kind. By rule, since Mark declared both ways and didn’t win both ways, his hand should be nullified. However, Mark argued that since Jason had three chips in his hand above the table when Mark declared, Jason’s three-chip declaration should stand and the two of them should split the pot.
A lengthy discussion followed, after which Jason agreed to split the pot, although he did not agree with the decision.
At the end of the night, Mark insisted Jason take $20 as compensation for the ruling ($20 being a lower estimate on the half of the pot that Jason didn’t receive). That $20 is reflected in tonight’s results.
| Mark D | ‑$43.00 |
| Mary | +$44.00 |
| Chris | +$76.00 |
| Lyndon | ‑$36.00 |
| Jason | ‑$35.00 |
| Glen | ‑$20.00 |
Jackpot is now $45.00.
Card Night Blog 
I seem to recall either reading about that incident, and your search engine found it: Feb 23, 2010. Paul retracted (literally!) his declaration and adjusted it. And I personally have also messed up the timing a few times, so I think the rule needs to be ammended.
My old poker group used to call “1, 2, 3, Reveal” once everyone was ready and the number of chips in your hand at the “Reveal” was your declaration. If you for some reason were too busy (or drunk) to have your hand over the table by then, you forfeited your declaration; same as mucking your hand. Possibly a player not in the pot should call out the reveal, to ensure fairness. Oh, and he/she should be sober.
Sober & not tired! Since there was a discrepancy, the fair thing to do was split the pot, & I feel bad having taken the 20, albeit under duress ;). Looking forward to another fun night, hopefully without the mishaps!