Ever played without looking at your hole cards?

#1 7th August 2008, 4:45 AM

I looked around and didn't see a topic on this; sorry if its a repost.

Anyway, I was browsing around and Annette Obrestad's name was mentioned a few times and I began to wonder if anybody on this forum tried to play a game without ever looking at the hole cards.

Have any of you tried this at all? How did it go?

One of these days I'll play without looking and see what happens...I'll probably do this on a freeroll though

#2 7th August 2008, 4:50 AM

Only on playmoney, I won but how do you not win there?

#3 7th August 2008, 4:51 AM

I play in live weekly games and sometimes when it's getting late and a few ppl are left we call all in without looking and stand up flip our cards and watch the board. It is really kind of fun, anything goes.

#4 7th August 2008, 6:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryodejaneiro

I looked around and didn't see a topic on this; sorry if its a repost.

Anyway, I was browsing around and Annette Obrestad's name was mentioned a few times and I began to wonder if anybody on this forum tried to play a game without ever looking at the hole cards.

Have any of you tried this at all? How did it go?

One of these days I'll play without looking and see what happens...I'll probably do this on a freeroll though

Do this all the time in SNG's. It's taught me things I never thought I could learn so easily. My "feel" for the game, their game, positional plays, etc has improved 100%!

Do it! You'll be amazed!

#5 7th August 2008, 6:18 AM

Have done it playing pub poker or home games occasionally, always just for a laugh though - never actually used it as a game improvement tool.

#6 7th August 2008, 6:34 AM

Live, it's good advertising to occasionally raise on the CO/BU without looking. You get an image as a loose guy. If that's the image you want.

**check the flop in the dark, too =)

#7 7th August 2008, 6:38 AM

I guess I could see this as useful in a sit and go maybe, where the cards dont matter nearly as much as position and aggression.

In a ring game not seeing ur cards is suicide imo

#8 7th August 2008, 6:49 AM

I had done this once in a live game(tourney).
I was sitting in the BB, UTG limped and all others had folded around to me, I just checked without looking at my cards.
The dealer dealt the flop, QJx, UTG put out a bet and that's when I looked at my cards, TT, man I was pissed, had I looked at my cards preflop I would have raised and had been in a better position to know where my hand stood after the flop.
I hated having to lay that down not knowing where I stood against that flop.
I will never again not look at my hole cards.

#9 7th August 2008, 7:22 AM

ive never done this online but it does sound fun.. at least for a play table or freeroll. a few live games my friends and i have gone in blind just to see who would take down the pot. although it is fun it is not my preferred method of play as i like to analize and study as the game progresses.

#10 7th August 2008, 7:34 AM

I've played several 45man sngs without looking at my cards for training purposes. Learned quite a bit about position, although at the stakes I was doing it it was not winnable since people don't fold. If you are willing to spend $20 or more at a time on books, invest $5 and play a few dollar mtts with your cards covered.

#11 7th August 2008, 1:49 PM

Can you imagine if I was to try this - the outcome would be hilarious, I know, struggle enough and that is with looking at my cards, maybe in a few months/years time.

#12 7th August 2008, 2:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryodejaneiro

I looked around and didn't see a topic on this; sorry if its a repost.

Anyway, I was browsing around and Annette Obrestad's name was mentioned a few times and I began to wonder if anybody on this forum tried to play a game without ever looking at the hole cards.

Have any of you tried this at all? How did it go?

One of these days I'll play without looking and see what happens...I'll probably do this on a freeroll though

In live LIMIT hold'em games I'll play my button blind sometimes, raising everytime. Mostly just to loosen up a really tight table.

I tried Scott Fischmans approach, taping an index card over my hole cards (internet). If I got nervous facing a big reraise I just flipped the card up to see where I stood. It was fun actually.

I've found that I learn more about betting patterns than any other aspect playing blind.

#13 7th August 2008, 2:29 PM

yes i played once, because the site called pitbullpoker is a failure, it didnt show my hole cards. i was shocked and seeing the other side of cards. that site is really bad in every aspect

#14 7th August 2008, 2:36 PM

I was actually thinking about trying it last night, even recording it with my laptop(which would record me on my PC not my mac), so you might see it posted, I'll most likely try a micro limit sng and try to win it without looking.

#15 7th August 2008, 4:29 PM

Yeah i've thought about doing it for a $1 sng or something, might be fun with commentary and my huge long list of curse words.

#16 7th August 2008, 4:32 PM

no , never even at playing freerolls , closest thing i did was going all in every hand whatever cards i get im all in only because i was in a hurry. i was thinking how can you not see your cards when playing online when the cards are in front of you?

#17 7th August 2008, 4:36 PM

I do that sometimes.
Made raises pre flop without looking at my cards. lol it was kinda fun players at Taj Mahal thought i was just a wacky New Yorker

#18 7th August 2008, 4:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingCurtis

I was actually thinking about trying it last night, even recording it with my laptop(which would record me on my PC not my mac), so you might see it posted, I'll most likely try a micro limit sng and try to win it without looking.

I think you should have done that yesterday around 6pm

#19 7th August 2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

I was actually thinking about trying it last night, even recording it with my laptop(which would record me on my PC not my mac), so you might see it posted, I'll most likely try a micro limit sng and try to win it without looking.

I would love to see that. I actually played in a playmoney SNG on FullTilt (ended up finishing 3rd in a 9 person table) and covered the hole cards with a folded index card - it was quite fun. I definitely started to see more patterns of how people play and noticed myself focusing largely on observing others playing styles.

Not being able to see the cards did make me a bit antsy though. Looking through the hand history, I folded some playable pocket pairs and won hands when I airballed (e.g., 2-7, 3-9).

#20 7th August 2008, 11:26 PM

Please forgive my spelling.

Doyle Brunson once said that he could read tells so well, live games, that he could beat most anyone without looking at his hole cards.

#21 8th August 2008, 12:31 AM

lol i jus went to a ring game play money on full tilt 1st hand and covered up my whole cards to go all in blind did not see what i had guy had AJ well turns out i had 10-7 lol won hit 7 on flop didnt look till river tho lol it was fun prolly will not do it in cash game tho

#22 8th August 2008, 12:56 AM

I've done this late in a friendly game when I'm on a streak, but never if playing serious. Information is power! Why play blind?

#23 8th August 2008, 7:50 AM

I actually did try this after I heard about Annette15 doing it. I decided to try it on a low limit low player sit and go; $2 +.50 18 player at full tilt.

I put a post it note where my hole cards would be and played on. Surprisingly I made 6th =). Out of the money but a fun experiment.

I think it's a great way to hone your 'reading' ability. Although, the low limit games have so many donkeys that making a good read is almost worthless. By the way, I had a hand history tracking program to help me.

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