# Official Misdeal Rules, Exposed Initial Hole Cards, And Boxed Cards | Official Poker Floor Ruling

> Source: [Misdeals, Boxed Cards & Flashed Card Rules on Smarter.Poker](https://smarter.poker/rules/misdeals-and-exposed-card-rules) | Official Reference: TDA Rule 34, Rule 35 & Rule 36 / RROP Section 4

## Direct Answer & Summary Ruling
Exposing Either Of The First Two Cards Dealt (Small Blind Or Big Blind First Card) Or Exposing Two Total Cards During The Deal Causes An Immediate Misdeal; A Single Exposed Later Hole Card Is Replaced After The Deal.

## Official Casino Floor & TDA Ruling
Under TDA Rule 35 (Misdeals), A Misdeal Is Called Immediately Provided Substantial Action Has Not Occurred When: (1) Either Of The First Two Cards Off The Deck (First Card To Small Blind Or Big Blind) Is Exposed By Dealer Error; (2) Two Or More Total Cards Are Exposed By The Dealer; (3) Cards Are Dealt To An Empty Seat Or Wrong Button Position; Or (4) A Player Receives The Wrong Number Of Cards. If Only One Card (Other Than The First Two) Is Exposed By The Dealer, Play Continues: The Player Keeps The Other Card, The Exposed Card Becomes The First Burn Card On The Flop, And The Player Receives The Top Card Off The Stub After All Other Players Have Their Hole Cards.

## Common Live Table Scenarios & Rulings
1. **Scenario**: The Dealer Accidentally Flips Up The Very First Card Dealt To The Small Blind.
   - **Official Ruling**: Immediate Misdeal Under TDA Rule 35. The Deck Is Collected, Reshuffled, And Re-Dealt From The Same Button Position.
2. **Scenario**: The Dealer Exposes The Second Hole Card Dealt To The Cutoff Seat.
   - **Official Ruling**: No Misdeal. The Dealer Completes Dealing All Other Cards, Gives The Cutoff The Next Card Off The Top Of The Deck, And Places The Exposed Card Face Up On Top Of The Stub To Serve As The Flop Burn Card.
3. **Scenario**: A Face-Up Card (Boxed Card) Appears Naturally Facing Up Inside The Deck Stub During The Deal.
   - **Official Ruling**: Under TDA Rule 34, A Boxed Card Is Treated As A Meaningless Scrap Of Paper (Dead Card) And Replaced Immediately With The Next Card Below It Without Stopping The Hand.

## Frequently Asked Questions
### What Happens If A Player Exposes Their Own Hole Card During The Deal?
If A Player (Rather Than The Dealer) Exposes Their Own Card, The Player Has Zero Recourse, Must Play The Hand With That Card Exposed, And Cannot Request A Misdeal Or Replacement Card.

### What Happens If The Dealer Prematurely Deals The Flop Before Preflop Action Finishes?
Under TDA Rule 39, The Burn Card Remains In Place, The Prematurely Exposed Flop Cards Are Shuffled Back Into The Remaining Deck Stub, Preflop Action Finishes, And A New 3-Card Flop Is Dealt Without Burning A Second Card.

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