Showing your cards (1 Viewer)

[RainmanTrail]

How often do you show your cards when it's not required?

I show my hands with a fair degree of regularity. I've been told by countless people over the past 20+ years that it's foolish of me, and that I give away too much information by doing it. I disagree. In fact, I'm confident that controlling the information I share about my game (through strategically showing my cards in certain spots) actually adds to my edge. I can plant ideas in other people's heads about how I play, then I can exploit them.

 

[Beakertwang]

I selected “rare event”, but it’s somewhere in between rare and often.

I have no real strategy, but I sometimes show bluffs, sometimes show the nuts, sometimes show when the villain does, but not always.

 

[upNdown]

I’ll show them on occasion. And I agree with you; as long as you’re exploiting whatever your current table image is, it’s probably +ev.

Those annoying people that are constantly showing one - they need a smack. Yes, yes, you had the K. We all knew.

 

[Perthmike]

In a proper game I hardly ever show, but I agree that when used appropriately it is a useful tool.

I bluffed a 5/5 reg in a game when I was playing up in stakes, and he thought I was a super nit and folded two pair face up. I showed the open ender for the semi bluff and proceeded to stack him 15 minutes later when he called off with top pair, when I pulled the same move with a set.

I would never have got paid if I hadn't shown that bluff. On the whole I'm not confident that I'd personally be controlling the information quite as much as I think I would be if I did it often.

 

[B.C.]

Home game - show all the time, mostly to get a laugh
Casino - rarely unless setting up a certain image or to induce play

 

[Highli99]

Especially in home games ill show when it's good for the game. Usually, that means a player who is tilted as I want to keep them in the game. I'll show them I had a winner so they can feel better about their fold. I might show a bluff if it's against a player that the table is rooting against for whatever reason. I would not show a bluff against a really good player or a really bad player, for different reasons.

 

[TheBigTater]

I would say never but I do on very rare occasions, always with a purpose though.

 

[Rhodeman77]

When done properly like @Perthmike showed it can make money! Adjusting your game the info shared is key.

A while back in my PLO home game I had the nut flush draw but it missed but the Broadway draw came in. I was against 2 people and the way the betting went I felt they both flopped a made hand and weren’t drawing. So on the river I check raised all-in. Both guys folded. I showed the bluff and they were fuming mad. One had flopped top set, the other top 2 pair.

for the rest of the night neither one folded to any bets I made, but of course I was value betting every time. I won over $1k from the 2 of them that night.

 

[JMC9389]

If I'm able to bag a big bluff early on I'll show so I can make every one else second guess whether I have it or not when I bet later on in the game. Otherwise I really only show when I need to or I fold my hand face up to get the villain to show their hand. That works surprisingly well to get information that I ordinarily wouldn't get.

 

[Av8tion]

only in small-stakes games.... never in anything 5-10NL 40/80 Limit or above...

 

[BukNaked36]

In a proper game I hardly ever show, but I agree that when used appropriately it is a useful tool.

I bluffed a 5/5 reg in a game when I was playing up in stakes, and he thought I was a super nit and folded two pair face up. I showed the open ender for the semi bluff and proceeded to stack him 15 minutes later when he called off with top pair, when I pulled the same move with a set.

I would never have got paid if I hadn't shown that bluff. On the whole I'm not confident that I'd personally be controlling the information quite as much as I think I would be if I did it often.

This is always the plan - show the bluff to get action on a later value hand

Then sit there for an hour or two with no value hand, and leveling myself in my head about how I can't bluff again

 

[jonplayspoker]

This is always the plan - show the bluff to get action on a later value hand

Then sit there for an hour or two with no value hand, and leveling myself in my head about how I can't bluff again

This. I only ever show my hand when it helps to build a good table image (usually showing bluffs early so I can bet for value and get called a higher % of the time later in the game).

 

[Highli99]

I actually think that showing bluffs is the perfect setup for another big bluff. Everyone expects the the opposite despite the expectation of having value bets called.

 

[jonplayspoker]

Good point @Highli99.

I guess it really depends on the level of players on the table.

Are they on level 0 "He bluffed the last time, so he's probably bluffing this hand", or level 1 "He knows that I know he bluffed the last time, so he'll will probably value bet this time", or level 2 "He knows that I know that he knows..." etc. etc.

 

[Rhodeman77]

I will occasionally show a bluff in PLO but never in hold’em. It is hard to make hands in hold’em. I’d rather my opponents believe I have it and fold than calling me down light. I am more likely to not have a hand than have one.

what I will do if I have been very active for a while and winning a lot hands I will show one of the stronger hands as to say “see, I have it, no bluffs here” so that I can keep stealing more hands. I want to reinforce I am a luck box catching cards!

 

[Legend5555]

It's very rare for me. I've had friends get mad at me about taking large pots off them and refusing to show. I've gotten calls I wouldn't have otherwise because when they ask if I'll show if they fold, I say no.

 

[CraigT78]

I'll show in a casino to tilt someone. Like @Perthmike suggested, I'll show a bluff to a particular player ifni think I can exploit it later. Typically the young kid who thinks he's a pro, or an @Anthony Martino type.

Otherwise, I'll only show monsters that didn't get to showdown, like the unlikely quads or when the straight flush hits.

 

[Anthony Martino]

I'll show in a casino to tilt someone. Like @Perthmike suggested, I'll show a bluff to a particular player ifni think I can exploit it later. Typically the young kid who thinks he's a pro, or an @Anthony Martino type.

Otherwise, I'll only show monsters that didn't get to showdown, like the unlikely quads or when the straight flush hits.

I do the exploiting good sir!

 

[Kyle]

Home games I show more to keep the game friendly.

Casino games I do not show or show rarely. When I do, I like to show the bluff to get the action going when there isn't much going on.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I'm in the same camp as many here. I'll show more frequently in a home game, very rarely in a casino unless I can use that as leverage.

In a home game, I'm never showing a bluff. I dont want to take a friends money and then rub their nose in it. In a casino, I only show a bluff if my opponent has been acting like an ass - like taking an opponent's money and then rubbing their nose in it.

 

[CraigT78]

like taking an opponent's money and then rubbing their nose in it.

This is the only reason I play in a casino. I just make sure to tip the security guy in advance.

"Here you go sir, I'll be at table 2, just in case"

 

[churlbut18]

I’ll show them on occasion. And I agree with you; as long as you’re exploiting whatever your current table image is, it’s probably +ev.

I agree with this. A useful tool to create/establish a certain table image for yourself that you can then exploit as the game goes on.

 

[legonick]

This is always the plan - show the bluff to get action on a later value hand

Then sit there for an hour or two with no value hand, and leveling myself in my head about how I can't bluff again

Yeah that play works so well...so long as you get hands! LOL.

 

[Jambine]

I occasionally show my hand, but ONLY with a good reason.
.....that reason is to gain a future benifit

 

[Colquhoun]

I so rarely show that I picked never. My opponents only see what I’ve got when they pay for it, and it shows I play good cards. That makes bluffing easier when they always think I’ve got it.
But I suck, so who knows?!

 

[Poker Zombie]

When I catch a walk in the BB with Aces or 72o I always show. Gets laughs every time.

 

[legonick]

When I catch a walk in the BB with Aces or 72o I always show. Gets laughs every time.

I'll show when I get a walk which is pretty rare...usually get a good laugh and I feel like it doesn't give much/any information away. Other than that, I'm basically a "never".

 

[Legend5555]

When I catch a walk in the BB with Aces or 72o I always show. Gets laughs every time.

I don't even look at my cards if I get a walk.

 

[kaimat]

I only host low stakes friendly games. My group has set a precendent of "selling" their cards. If someone wants to see cards (villain or otherwise) the player negotiates a price. Sometimes it's $0.50, sometimes it is $5, all depending on the person who wants to see the cards and the size of the bet or pot.

Sometimes two players both agree to show for free.

Sometimes multiple players will chip in to meet the demand of the player (ex: 4 players may each give a quarter to meet the $1 requirement).

This makes it fun and always possible but also not done for free. You can fold and pay a lower price than calling to still see the cards.

Cards shown are always shown to the whole table, regardless of who actually pays money to the player.

This system has resulted in zero problems over the course of the last 5+ years we've been playing together, so I'm happy to continue it.

 

[legonick]

I don't even look at my cards if I get a walk.

Cut the pain when you get a monster with no action, eh? Smart. LOL.