On Saturday night, August 9th, one of the year’s most bizarre poker moments unfolded during the $5,300 SHRPO Championship.
Day 1B of the event drew 458 entries, joining the 431 from Day 1A for a total of 889 players. By the end of play, 292 remained to advance to Day 2 in one of America’s most prestigious cardrooms.
During the livestream, a massive pot between two players turned into a rules controversy—when it came to light that one of them had been playing with three hole cards, completely unaware until the very end of the hand.
The Hand in Question
Early position, Niall Costigan opened to 4,500 with A♠ K♣. In the hijack, Corey Harrison called holding A♣ J♠, and Daniel Cove defended his big blind with K♥ J♣.
The flop fell 10♠ 8♣ K♠, giving each player something to work with. Cove checked top pair, Costigan bet 5,000 with top-top, Harrison folded his gutshot, and Cove called.
The 8♦ hit the turn, pairing the board. Check, 12,000 bet from Costigan, call from Cove.
River: Q♥. No improvement for either hand—though it would have made Harrison a straight had he stayed in. Cove checked once more. Costigan bombed the river for 52,000, just over pot, targeting exactly the kind of hand Cove had.
Cove called. Pot size: 153,000 chips. Costigan began to table his hand—turning over the A♠—and then froze when he realized there were two more cards in front of him.
“Holy sh*t,” he said, suddenly aware he’d been holding three cards all along.
He explained he thought he had pocket kings, which would have made a full house.
“Wow, three cards,” said a stunned tablemate.
“I only saw two kings,” Costigan insisted, tossing the hand forward.
The Ruling
The table erupted into discussion.
“I’ve never seen that in my life,” commented veteran grinder Steven “Cuz” Buckner.
The floor was summoned. Costigan explained that the extra ace had been stuck under his cards and he only noticed when peeling them at showdown.
Brian Green, also at the table, was doubtful: “It’s none of my business, but I don’t see how you couldn’t know.”
Most players sided with Costigan, saying they didn’t suspect foul play. Costigan argued he’d never value-bet such a thin ace on the river, pointing out that his large sizing was either a bluff or a monster.
Tournament staff paused the game while they discussed. “It was literally stuck,” Costigan said again.
The decision came down: “It’s a three-card hand—hand is dead.”
Costigan argued for a chopped pot and suggested Harrison, who called preflop, should also get his chips back. Head supervisor Jason Heidenthal confirmed the ruling, telling him, “Based on what you’ve said, this is correct.”
Costigan pushed back: “Why am I being punished for playing well?”
“You’re being punished for playing a three-card hand,” the floor replied.
The pot—over 75 big blinds—was awarded to Cove, boosting him to 215,000 chips. Costigan dropped to 56,000 and later busted on stream when his A♠ Q♦ lost to Green’s 10♦ 10♣ on a diamond-heavy board.