All-in Mucked Hand?

Question

I was recently in a poker home game that has been going on for a while. We are all good friends, but recently, a dispute happened where one person was supposed to win the hand, but there hand was ruled dead (my hand). Heres the full details:

I was 3th to act with 8 players. I'm on a very short stack of about 4 BB left at the final table out of 20 people. I have Pocket Queens and shoved my last $2,400 in tournament chips into the pot. It goes fold and all-in over the top of me. It folds around and it's just me and him. He turns over A Q off suit, and I turn over my Q Q. I am in a good position to win the hand. The flop comes A A 10. I am devastated and pick up my cards again and say: 'I'm drawing dead'. I never flipped over my cards, but as I was tossing them into the center of the table, one of the cards flips over, leaving one Queen exposed. As I gather my stuff, the turn and river come out K J, giving both of us a straight. They said than since me hand 'hit the muck', my hand was...

Answer 1

If one card you tossed landed up, its in play. They have to be tossed face down to be mucked.

Usually in tournament situations, they put the all in hands in the middle of the table, yes right next to the muck pile. So as long as you didnt toss them both face down into the muck pile, it should of counted.

All rules should be discussed before the game starts so theres no confusion. Put them in writing too.

Thats also a bad mistake on your part either way. Toss them face up always, even if you lose, people will see how bad of beat you took and that it was the right move.

When you are all in, always flip your cards over, its bad poker karma not to, which is probably why the AA hit on flop.

The poker gods are always watching. Those sick cruel ba****ds.

Answer 2

Since you tossed them into the center of the table, you appeared to have given up on the hand.  Once the hand is forfeited, you lose.

Answer 3

ANY time your cards hit the muck they are dead..  you tossed them in before the entire board was out so it was your own fault that you missed on the few outs you had available..