I really don"t understand why some people get so hung up on this... if you think ypou"ve got the best hand just turn it over, if no one turns over a better one take the pot and move on.
I suspect that you may get different answers dependant on where the game is played, since the dealers will do what they usually do. And I really hope that no one would be so pedantic as to call the "the floor" for a ruling on this!
That said, I think the following is how it usually is -
I meant to ask this after Coventry this year. But I couldn"t find anything about them in the rules section.
Mainly:
Who is first to show? Is it last aggressive action in any round or just last agressive action on the river ?
The last person to bet or raise on the river.. If checked around, then the person in earliest position i.e. closest on dealers left.
If a player mucks, rather than showdown can anyone (or just players in hand) ask to see the cards ? Or is this supposed to be only in the event of protecting the integrity of the game ?
Anyone at the table
can ask to see any hand that goes to showdown. But yes, the rule is there to protect against collusion, it is
not so that you can ask to see someone"s hand to gain oinformation.
If the first player to act mucks, can the other player claim the pot without showdown ?
I think most places now have a rule that you have to show both cards to claim a pot at showdown, regardless of what anyone else does.