Thank you Brian, that was my feeling too, but what id really like to know is there any specific rule against declaring a wrong hand at showdown in an attempt to get your opponent to muck his hand
Yes there is:
WSOP Rule 60
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Cards speak. Verbal declarations as to the content of a player's hand are not binding; however at Rio discretion, any player deliberately
miscalling his hand will be subject to penalty in accordance with Rule No. 92.
WSOP Rule 92 - In its sole and absolute discretion, Rio may impose penalties ranging from a verbal warning, one missed hand away from the table up to
disqualification and expulsion from all Rio casino properties. Penalties will be invoked in cases of soft-play, abuse or disruptive behavior. A
penalty will also be imposed if a player throws a card off the table, forcefully mucks their cards causing one or all cards to turn over, violates
the one-player-to-a-hand rule or engages in similar behavior.
*NOTE* There are subsections A thru F here that outline the types of penalties and range of discretion that the staff is allowed when imposing penalties.
RRoP Section 3 General Poker Rules and R.O.P.E. in The Showdown Rule 2
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Cards speak (cards read for themselves). The dealer assists in reading hands, but players are responsible for holding onto their cards until the winner is declared. Although verbal declarations as to the contents of a hand are not binding, deliberately miscalling a hand with the intent of causing another player to discard a winning hand is unethical and may result in forfeiture of the pot.
TDA Rules Section Pots/Showdowns Rule 12: Declarations. Cards Speak at Showdown
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Cards speak to determine the winner. Verbal declarations of hand value are not binding at
showdown. However, deliberately miscalling a hand may be penalized. Any player, in the hand
or not, should speak up if he thinks a mistake is being made in the reading of hands.
I had similar situation in a recent event. Warnings here do not send much of a message IMO. Especially in this instance where the player specifically miscalls their hand in an effort to get the opposing player to muck their hand without a showdown.
In the instance I witnessed, Player A check called Player B to showdown at the River.
Upon being called:
Player B asked Player A, "Do you have anything?"
Player A said, "Well what do you got?"
Player B says, "Pocket 5's!"
Player A says, "Well lets see'em"
Player B then tables their hand and says, "I don't really have anything, just K high. Just wanted to see what you had so I didn't have to show."
Then disgust and disdain began to make its way around the table with each player completely taken aback by the actions of Player B.