Chet, Martin & Nick,
I wholehartedly agree that the player should not get away with this action but 'by the book' his announcment is not binding as the action
has changed TDA and RROP are quite specific about the subject, whilst I agree that it is not ideal that players have to be aware that the all-in announcement is only binding if the action has not changed but that is the way it has been written.
RROP states this which is untimately the same as the TDA rule 29 on the subject:11. Deliberately acting out of turn will not be tolerated. A player who checks out of turn may not bet or raise on the next turn to act. A player who has called out of turn may not change his wager to a raise on the next turn to act. An action or verbal declaration out of turn is binding unless the action to that player is subsequently changed by a bet or raise. If there is an intervening call, an action may be ruled binding.
Interesting I came in memory of a write up on the Hendon Mob Website with input from some of the 'greats' - bear in mind this series in particular was some time ago before a lot of the rule improvements were made.
You are the Tournament Director Series 2: When is Verbal Action Valid?During the 2005 Monte Carlo Millions it was approaching the end of the day and Achilleas Kallakis had just lost a big pot. As the dealer started to shuffle he announced that he was going to go all in whatever saying, ‘When it gets to me I am all in whatever happens’. He still had quite a decent stack by the way.
He said it again as the dealer finished shuffling,
Again after the cut,
Again after the first card had been dealt,
Again after everyone had one card and finally just after the last card had been dealt. What are his options when the action gets to him?
In any event it passed to him, he moved all in and everyone behind him passed.
Danny
When he said his statment after the last card was dealt I would call it as action out of turn and ask him to place his all in bet out in front of him. At the end of the hand I would caution him that if he acts out of turn again I would give him a time penalty.
Thomas
If he says: “All-in” when the deal was finished, he has to go All-in if no other player raises in front of him.
Matt
I would make it clear to him that it is bad etiquette to do this but if the action had not changed to him when it was his turn I would make him go all-in.
Roy
He has to go all in. As soon as he has made the declaration. The minute the first card is in his hand and he makes a declaration he's all-in it's binding.
Luke
His verbal statement only counts after the last player has received his full hand, everything that went before is ignored as the hand had not been completely dealt. He is now bound to go all in (declaring out of turn), he should be cautioned about acting out of turn deliberately and may be penalised for doing so.
Mel
After the last card was dealt (not before) and he says “all in” it is binding.
Mob Verdict
All our Tournament Directors agree with the exception of Roy that the all in declaration in valid as ‘out of turn’ action as soon as the last card has been dealt. We think that between Luke and Matt we have it covered. The only thing that Luke misses out is if the action changes before it gets to him then he can change his action. If a player raises before him then he doesn’t have to go all in as action has changed whereas if all players acting before him have only folded or called then his all in stands.
http://www.thehendonmob.com/tournament_director2/when_is_verbal_action_validThe information you get from this, the TDA and RROP is a check, call or fold before the player means he has to complete, a raise and the announcement can be retracted.
I don't like it much either but thats poker rules, and that's why they are there - for the best interests of the game.
I would give DSQ / Round Penalties where necessary but I will not make that player go all-in if the action has changed to him. I would also consider removing him from the tourney anyway because he is intoxicated. In fact, TBA he should not of been allowed to play in the first instance!
Best Regards
Stuart