Showdown Before Flop, Turn, or River

How come Texas Holdem on the WPT sometimes skip to the showdown part, i.e. players show their hands before the flop? It seems to happen when one player raises all-in and another player calls. Does this mean that whenever two players are heads-up and one is all-in, the cards are immediately shown, even before the flop, turn, or river?

Thanks. I'm just learning this game, and I'm trying to introduce it to my friends here in the Philippines.

Regards,

War Djo

Yes, in tournement poker only though. Its a relitivly new rule to make the game more "tv friendly"

In the begining alot of pro's (spesifcly Erick Seidel) where very oppese to this as it gives away alot about their stly. Erick used to actually put his chips in front of the hole cams untill the WPT cracked down on him and told him to play by the rules or dont play at all. I guess when you make a wpt final TV table you have to sign a whole bunch of releases that state you will do what the producers tell you. If you could fine some old WPT episodes with Eric you will notice that mike sexton gets VERY upset with him for hiding his cards. Calling him a poor sport and the like.

kumusta ka? And yes, when betting reaches a point to where no more betting can commence, then the cards come up during the flop/turn/river. The reason is because, for instance, if its heads up (1 vs 1), if one guy goes all in, and the other calls, regardless of the cards that come up after this action, no more betting can happen since one guy has all his chips in the pot already (from going all-in). If there are 4 players in a pot, then it would have to be 3 players all-in and the 4th to call in order for the cards to be turned up while the flop/turn/river is dealt. Hope this helps

i think we've all made the mistake in home games of turning over our cards when we are the short stack...and there are a couple of callers.