To Show, or Not To Show

Rails · Apr 19, 2005

I'm just curious how many people out there like to show their cards. I really enjoy changing gears constantly at the table. Out of every 10 hands that I win, I like to show around 2-3 nut hands, but at least 1 bluff hand too. Muck the rest. If you are with the same players at a table for awhile, this can really get on their nerves!

Grumbledook · Apr 19, 2005

I fold every single one, unless playing with my mates. The more info the other players have about you the more they can put you on a hand accuratly.

I have the automuck clicked on every site I play on.

While it can be beneficial I win a lot of hands before going to the showdown and I use that to my advantage.

OhioMistress · Apr 19, 2005

I'm also a folder. I agree that the less people know about you the more chances of winning. My favorite is when you have something stupid and the bet with all the way to river and fold. You actually had something like 7 2 os and win with it. You saw and the next you might lose because with the same.

Ohio

webber286 · Apr 19, 2005

I don't like to show my hand either. Always have the auto muck on as well. Suppose it is a strategy to get under other people's skin and hope they make a mistake the next time, but would rather not have my opponents knowing exactly what I am doing.

Rails · Apr 19, 2005

I see what you mean, and for the most part I agree. I don't show my wins every time. You could make the agrument that if they folded, I DID have the nuts, whether I show or not. My hand WAS good enough to win.

But if I had 7 2 os and managed to get my opponent to call a bet 3 times, only to fold at the river - I would show that 7 2. If nothing else, just to piss em off. You can get people to make even dumber bets when the whole table just watched them get their ass kicked.

I've watched people virtually curl up into the fetal position, literally not knowing what to do, after a couple shows, a couple mucks, and a lot of wins.

Actually, as far as that goes - when the situation is reversed, if I fold to a bet, I just assume the player has what I put him on, and don't think twice about it - UNLESS he shows a bluff. Then it sticks with me - for half a hand - lol

RammerJammer · Apr 20, 2005

If you show a winning hand to the folder, and you had them covered, it only reinforces their decision to fold, which is a psychological positive for them. Why would you want to bolster their confidence in reading you? If you bluffed rags to the river and they folded, and you show them your cards, you only make it more difficult to bluff the next time. I can think of very, very few occasions when it's a good idea to show your winning hand. I notice a lot of online players show their cards after no one calls their all-in, as if they're afraid someone will think they were "buying the pot" if they don't demostrate a strong hand. That's probably the worst reason of all.

One of the classics is last year's wsop $5,000 NLHE event. James Sousa caught an unbelieveable run of cards and went all-in on six straight hands. After every hand, when everyone had folded, he'd show monster holes. AA, KK, QQ, AK suited...it was freakish. He finally got into a hand against Thomas Keller, who actually went on to win the event. Keller had Sousa's rags crushed. Sousa went all-in for about half of Keller's chips. Keller thought long and hard, but folded. Sousa turned over rags. "I was on the draw." Keller looked like he was going to throw up! Beautiful.

lumberjack · Apr 20, 2005

I don't like to show a winning because I like for them to keep guessing and I still hold true to the saying"YOu got to pay to C" I'm no pro just a schmo playing poker.. I 've enyoy doing so..

xdmanx007 · Apr 20, 2005

AMEN Grum All hail Grum! Never show your cards unless it is against your friends and then only the big hands, I do that only out of respect myself.

chicubs1616 · Apr 20, 2005

I never show a hand unless I'm playing with my friends or I have a huge hand (4 of a kind, Straight Flush).

Online, I have the AUTO-MUCK on.

Showing bluffs can be very useful though, especially if you show a perpetual caller, who will then call down everything you bet; so you bet your legit hands for value.

maczord75 · Apr 20, 2005

I only show about 1 out of every 25 hands most time like to keep people guessing

Wlokos · Apr 21, 2005

I always fold. They don't need to know what I've been doing. Let them be confused.

I only show when playing mind games with the people.

Rails · Apr 21, 2005

I think that maybe everyone is missing my point. I agree, that if you fold every time, you will have your opponent wondering what you had. However, if they folded in the first place, they obviously thought they were beat. Therefore, they are not really confused, they've CONVINCED themselves that they had the worst hand.

My point is that if they've SEEN you win with nuts, and they've SEEN you win with shit, then they're REALLY confused.

clavin42 · Apr 21, 2005

I rarely if ever show my cards. The only time I do it is when I am on BB and everyone else folds. In that situation it doesnt matter how you would have played the cards and you dont give anything away by showing people your hand.

slobberdawg · Apr 21, 2005

never show em

Rails said:
I'm just curious how many people out there like to show their cards. I really enjoy changing gears constantly at the table. Out of every 10 hands that I win, I like to show around 2-3 nut hands, but at least 1 bluff hand too. Muck the rest. If you are with the same players at a table for awhile, this can really get on their nerves!

i never show...i just let them wonder..
if i get caught bluffing...so be it..

RammerJammer · Apr 22, 2005

I noticed during our last cc UB freeroll that if some players folded their hand in the face of a big bet in the late rounds, they would frequently turn over their cards to show what they were laying down. Just wondering why you would do this. Are you trying to get the bettor to reciprocate and show you his cards? Some of the winners, who are probably using the "don't show winning hands" autofeature, would sometimes chat back something like, "Sorry. Had Q's", as if they felt they owed the folding player a show. Ties in neatly with the thread topic here, "To Show, or Not to Show". I believe the consensus so far is heavily "Not". But I thought the above-described activity was interesting. (By the way, if we're heads-up in a tourney hand and you want to show me your cards, thanks. But you ain't seein mine.) :aetsch:

philly0707 · Apr 22, 2005

I would agree to never show unless playing with friends and is only a friendly game. Tournaments and all others I don't show.

Jack Daniels · Apr 22, 2005

I generally muck my hand unless some pays to see it. Only in the rarest of circumstances do I show and uncalled hand. If I do, it is because I am setting an image, etc for a particular reason for later.

hdusch · Apr 23, 2005

I never show online. Let them guess. I will sometimes chat and tell someone they made a good laydown, even if I had 7 2.
HD

notfit66 · Apr 23, 2005

For the most part I dont show, unless its play money (dont play the same at them tables) or when playing friends..in some occassions i showed when asked, if they are deciding to fold or not.

Thewebmaster · Apr 23, 2005

Depends what i'm playing

Hi all,
In the SNG's I always show the nut hands, if i've shown 5 or 6 or even more good winning hands during the game I can usually get away with one good bluff a little later on as the other few players tend to think i'll only go when i've got the nuts.
Apart from this type of strategy I see no real reason for showing and this doesn't work every time for me anyway.
In our cardschat freerolls I don't mind showing as I thought we were all friends here anyway

Good luck all

Tony ( The Webmaster )

fubarcdn · Apr 24, 2005

I have a policy to never show for the reasons that everyone else stated. Having said that if I am playing in a league game and I like the person I am playing I will flop a few hands over out of courtesy if he does the same.

Freakakanus · Apr 24, 2005

I was bluffed twice recently and the guy showed me both times. Man did it piss me off! I guess his strategy worked cause the next face card I saw I went all in and was busted. Silly me, gotta keep composure.

tkwok1 · Apr 24, 2005

i never show, unless i hve AA or 27

katymaty · Apr 24, 2005

show or not

if im in a freeroll and it contains alot of players ill go all in with weak hands sometimes and show if nobody calls me, so it annoys them lol

arty: . this way when i get a genuine hand they will be more likely to call me

katy

RammerJammer · Apr 24, 2005

Playing a little "devil's advocate" here. Numerous posts indicating a perceived difference in showing hands in general vs. showing to "friends". In a competitive gaming environment, why would it be considered unfriendly not to show? Isn't that just part of the game? What's next? 'Friends don't raise into other friends' blinds'? Or maybe, 'Friends don't bluff friends'? How about, 'Friends always fold to their friends' all-in'?

To Show, or Not To Show

Rails

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Grumbledook

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OhioMistress

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webber286

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Rails

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RammerJammer

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lumberjack

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xdmanx007

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chicubs1616

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maczord75

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Wlokos

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Rails

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clavin42

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slobberdawg

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RammerJammer

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philly0707

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Jack Daniels

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hdusch

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notfit66

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Thewebmaster

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