To Muck or Not to Muck - That is the Question

Is it better to muck or not to muck your cards? I think there are positive aspects to each. Mucking keeps the opponent guessing at what your cards are and makes them have to pay to see em. At the same time, you can play mind games and show people when you are bluffing and not bluffing, making them think you are a tight or loose player, depending on the situation. What do you guys think?

Sure, you can get tricky, and try to portray a certain image to your opponents by showing your cards. But, any poker player worth their salt will see right through that. Never, ever give away free information to your opponents! It's essentially the same as giving away war secrets (ok, an extreme example, but you get the point).

Never show your cards....that is the wrong mind game to play. That is where things will fall apart. You are like a open book then. But if your playing a tard i would maybe show 1 bluff just so you can pull the drooler in. hheee hawww

Agree with the above. Your opponents want info, they pay for ittt

uhmmm but what about the peppers?

juiceeQ said:

But, any poker player worth their salt will see right through that. Never, ever give away free information to your opponents!

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I don't totally agree with you unless you are referring to live games. online poker rooms are filled with average to below average players who are easily intimidated or fooled.

When I first join a table, I don't muck hands because I want the players to make notes on me (tight-aggressive). Then when I have established that image I bluff like crazy. I never ever show a bluff, however.

Elle

if i get a long string of good cards where no one calls me down on the 5th or sixth i will usually show so they dont call with some bs hand later and get lucky but thats the only time i play at the donkament level but thats ok i have fun

its best to muck. the more you show, the more information you are giving them. The less they know about your game the harder it will be for them to play against you and will cause them to make mistakes when you put pressure on them.

Really, the only time I show cards is if I bluff someone that I really dont like at the table, other than that I dont really like to do it.

I guess one of my thoughts is if you bluff and show them you bluffed, they will think you're very loose. When you have a really good hand, they'll think you're bluffing and call you.

If they aint paying, im not showing!!!

It depends on your post-flop strategy.
I individually like to place continuation bets with almost anything if I raised preflop. Commonly everyone folds - then if i flopped a monster - i love to show it, so my bluff continuation bets gain value.

I say let them pay for it, but watch out as they do

MUCK!!MUCK!!MUCK!!! never give them any free info on you at all.

Turn your default settings to "Auto Muck" so that you can resist the temptation to show any hands. Showing hands only allows others to see how we play certain hands. In online poker putting someone on a range of hands is one of the most important traits of the succesful poker player.

You will give up betting strategy tells if you don't muck. Guaranteed.

Lot of good advice...think I'm going to stick with the "no muck" strategy.

I like to show a hand or two at the beginning of a game, so the donks who called me know not to mess around. After that, I can get away with almost anything. It really helps me as the table tightens down and I can nick pots left and right, when the blinds are worth stealing.

I seldom show a bluff. I do it on occasion, to tilt a strong player (next time I won't be bluffing, ofcourse). Most of the times, I'll be paid off. I only show the bluff when my opponent is sufficiently crippled, though.

The_Flash said:

Is it better to muck or not to muck your cards? I think there are positive aspects to each. Mucking keeps the opponent guessing at what your cards are and makes them have to pay to see em. At the same time, you can play mind games and show people when you are bluffing and not bluffing, making them think you are a tight or loose player, depending on the situation. What do you guys think?

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You never show your cards, muck them all the time.
TBH, I'm one of those players that pays attention to the table and the players on it and lets say I read someone as a TAG and he shows a bluff all that is saying to me is that you want me to think you hold mediocre cards and I should call most of your hands.
But I read you as a tag and if your willing to show your hands, then go ahead.
Showing your hands and making certain sized bets with certain cards will be all I'll need to get an even better read on you.
NEVER SHOW YOUR HAND, IT MAKES IT EASIER TO BLUFF LATER ON.

Never show always muck and make them pay for info.