Redeal

Redeal is the act of dealing a new hand of playing cards after the initial deal has been deemed invalid or when a new round begins. It is used to correct problems such as misdeals, defective or incomplete decks, or players’ disqualification in some game rules, ensuring a fair and complete set of cards for all players.

Redeals are typically initiated by the dealer or the house and followed by shuffling the remaining cards, occasionally replacing the deck entirely, and offering players a cut before the new deal. In informal settings, redeals are usually decided by consensus or local rules; in casinos and formal tournaments, redeals follow explicit procedures and may involve rotating the dealer.

Common triggers include misdeals (such as dealing to the wrong player or with an incorrect number of cards), exposed cards or other dealing irregularities, and situations where the game requires a fresh shuffle to maintain randomness. In some games, players may also call for a redeal after a deal that results in an imminent disadvantage or rule violation. Penalties on players are rare; often a redeal is cost-free except for the time lost and the interruption of play.

Different games handle redeals in specific ways. In poker, a misdeal or a hand deemed unsatisfactory by house rules prompts a redeal; in bridge, misdeals usually lead to a redeal with the deal passing to the next player. Online platforms automatically trigger redeals when a hand is aborted due to connectivity or software issues, with the pot typically preserved or returned to players according to the platform’s policy.