Matt,
I'm not sure I understand what you are saying about a tournament is never heads up until two players are left. I always said that heads up is more open because no player can be caught in the middle. The situation above rules nothing wrong with asking a player what he has, and it's okay if he tells you, but he can't show you, is that right?
I also don't understand exactly what you are saying about NOT being allowed to lie about your hand, or tell the truth with action pending. Does that mean that you can tell the truth about your hand after you bet, or before you bet? I guess I don't get it.
I saw it as a player going all-in, with one card to come and oposing one player. While the player is contemplating whether he will call, the all-in player asks if he has an ace. He said "yes, I call "and showed the ace nine. Are you saying that, had he just responded with an answer (before calling), instead of showing the card, it would have been okay?
I have looked over your last statment and have come to the conclusion that, you can't talk about any cards you are holding. If you can't lie and can't tell the truth.
I thought that I would modify this post rather than start another. The following is what leads to my confusion. This is a post from a prior incident on the Hendon Mob Site: Situation: On the bubble, in a big NLH competition, Player A makes a big raise under the gun. The button moves all in announcing, ‘I’ve got aces, you had better pass if you want to make the money punk!’ You are called to the table, how do you rule?
Matt Savage:
This is one of those situations where it does happen and I would... strange, strangely enough I would go to the table and see the guys hand and its one of those things where... I’m not a fan of this if you're lying its OK and if your telling the truth then its not but I would see if the player had Aces and if he had Aces then I would give him a penalty that would definitely affect his spot in this tournament and you know I would let the hand play out and... I would ask to see the cards after the hand was finished.