checking in the dark (live)

Hey guys

I was just wondering if you guys ever check in the dark, and with what kinds of hands. Also, what do you think when someone else does so?

I thought of a situation where i think it could work well. If there are some limpers to your sb/bb, and you will be first to act with a small pp, it seems like a good situation to do so because I think you can either c/c or c/r if you hit your set.

Also, (a little risky, havent done it but i could see it working well) if you open raise a big hand like aa or kk, then get called by a very aggressive player, all others fold, you could do so with the intention of c/r, since he has a high chance of betting.

Any other situations?

From my experience, if an unknown or inexperienced player does this, I tend to favor my read as a small pocket pair because they saw David Williams do it in 2005.

If I had AA/KK against an aggressive player I wouldn't check dark, I'd let the flop come and check/raise. Checking dark gives the player a free turn, but if you see the flop and check, the player may feel you missed, or are scared of the flop.

If I check dark, which I never have, it would be with an off the wall hand to try and confuse my opponent. I think most people associate a dark check with a small pocket pair.

I never check in the dark.

It's a way to be in position without actually being in position, but if someone hits a draw on the flop, checking in the dark could allow them to check and hit their card on the turn.

I've ticked a couple of people off before by saying, "well, I raise in the dark, then." lol. That confuses the dealer, too. I didn't get on anybody's good side that day.

EDIT:

Just noticed I was in the "cash game" section.. the above was from a tournament game. If that makes any difference.

If the benefits are that hard to see, then it's probably not worth employing.

I know I use it when I'm drunk or playing with friends. But I normally don't like to give up information. I'm just not good enough to get away with it.

Mortis said:

I've ticked a couple of people off before by saying, "well, I raise in the dark, then." lol. That confuses the dealer, too. I didn't get on anybody's good side that day.

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Ha. I like this idea...

rssurfer54 said:

I thought of a situation where i think it could work well. If there are some limpers to your sb/bb, and you will be first to act with a small pp, it seems like a good situation to do so because I think you can either c/c or c/r if you hit your set.

Also, (a little risky, havent done it but i could see it working well) if you open raise a big hand like aa or kk, then get called by a very aggressive player, all others fold, you could do so with the intention of c/r, since he has a high chance of betting.

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Sorry but, if you're "checking in the dark," does this not mean that you don't know what cards you've got? So how are you going to know if you're got a PP or AA/KK? :S

In this situation i believe checking in the dark means that they are going to check the next turn of betting before they see the cards. It is not literally checking without seeing your cards. That would be checking/calling/rasing blind. Something I've only seen a couple of times and it really doesn't work well.

Yes, jmill, you've got that right. It's not that you haven't looked at your cards.

Mortis, I have done that exact same thing quite a few times at a bar game that I go to monthly. People get so confused but it's funny how much stronger of a range they will put you on. Just about every time it's a muck as soon as the flop comes.

madtom1337 said:

Sorry but, if you're "checking in the dark," does this not mean that you don't know what cards you've got? So how are you going to know if you're got a PP or AA/KK? :S

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jmill said:

In this situation i believe checking in the dark means that they are going to check the next turn of betting before they see the cards. It is not literally checking without seeing your cards. That would be checking/calling/rasing blind. Something I've only seen a couple of times and it really doesn't work well.

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Yeah, I believe jmill is right.. I think the OP meant checking in the dark after the flop. Pre-flop, the "dark checker" could have checked, limped, or bet preflop, then "checked in the dark" before the flop comes out, because they are in an early position.. I've seen SB's and BB's do this a few times before.

absoluthamm said:

Yes, jmill, you've got that right. It's not that you haven't looked at your cards.

Mortis, I have done that exact same thing quite a few times at a bar game that I go to monthly. People get so confused but it's funny how much stronger of a range they will put you on. Just about every time it's a muck as soon as the flop comes.

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I'm usually either quiet or pretty friendly at the live tables.. but I will play mind games with the jerks. Not saying that all people who check in the dark are jerks.. because they're not.. but that one instance, the dude was being a jerk.. and had to make a comment on everything and everybody's play.

Checking dark is so retarded it makes me want to kill babies.

I wonder if they would let you "shove river dark" before you even see the flop.

Edit: I sometimes feel like this is actually my strategy. Luckily they don't know that.

c9h13no3 said:

Checking dark is so retarded it makes me want to kill babies.

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I loled at this.

I actually rarely do it myself; only time is when i have some rag hand from the bb, so that when i flop two pair or trips i can usually get a free bet.

Or you could wait for the flop to come and bet the flop depending on the board texture...might be a good idea

Smileyphil said:

I wonder if they would let you "shove river dark" before you even see the flop.

Edit: I sometimes feel like this is actually my strategy. Luckily they don't know that.

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Although i would definetly allow this awesome move in my home games, i can guarantee this would not be allowed in a B&M. I'm 99% positive that with the exception of a straddle you cannot place bets before the turn begins.