surely if someone mucks his/her hole cards stating "play the board" then anyone still left in could state "all-in", then the origonal "mucker" must call the bet or "fold the board". I would do this as at worst it's a split pot - yes
No reputable card room will let you play the board without cards, or call a bet without any cards. Any players(s) left with hole cards and play the board for the best hand after action has been completed take the pot/part pot and cannot split with a player who has mucked. Some cardrooms will let you play the board with no cards but they are frankly donktastic.
As for the original debate, I can't believe that most of you believe that you should be able to win the pot after action has been checked round on the river without a showdown. To clarify, with two players left the first player to act open mucks, the second player can muck and take down the pot. But if the action goes check, check and the first player mucks, then the second player has to show to win the pot. After the action goes check, check it is an automatic showdown. In addition the losing player mucking may do so unless requested to show by any player at the table. Any cardroom that does not enforce these rules is behind the times, not having to showdown promotes soft play, chip dumping and yes a hand can be mucked that would otherwise be ineligible to win a pot through having a duplicate card, the incorrect number of cards etc. The Aviation, Concord, Crown AUS, and virtually every Vegas Cardroom including the Bellagio all rule this way.
Sorry to go against the flow of guys particularly Ironside, but I believe that you are looking at this rule from the point of view of a player not wanting to give away unnecessary information, rather than a TD trying to run a quality setup.
You are actually agreeing with everyone. The debate is about if a player mucks before the final round of betting - so it isn't a showdown. Ironside can speak for himself, but he certainly isn't saying you can take a pot at showdown without showing your cards.
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