Showing a Steal

When I haven't been at a table long and I get a premium hand in late position, make a standard raise and everyone folds I often show my hand. I've never been one to show my hands too often if at all, but lately I started doing this thinking it might make it easier to steal the blinds later in the session.

Considering I'm playing at micro limits, is this good, bad or useless?

As with anything, it depends. Sometimes players will take a show like this as an advertisement to 3-bet lite the next time you try to steal while others will believe you the 2nd & 3rd time you attempt a steal. Deciding how those in the blinds when you're in LP will react is part of reading the table.

I think it's bad because everytime you don't show it's obv that you have nothing

tomh7795 said:

I think it's bad because everytime you don't show it's obv that you have nothing

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Hmmm...well some might assume that I suppose, but the hand will be over by then. Just figured the time I show would stand out more than the times that I don't, but perhaps not.

Its pointless.

If anything it just makes you look more of a newbie.

Stu_Ungar said:

Its pointless.

If anything it just makes you look more of a newbie.

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Gee, thanks. lol

Thanks for the feedback people, I think I get the message.

I wouldn't show. Ever. If you advertise your AKs from a 3xBB or 4xBB raise from late position. The 2nd poster is right, you get less credibility when you steal and show and then accordingly steal and muck. Just keep your opponents guessing and don't show hands.

It dosent matter if they know you are stealing or not.

1. most players at micros do not steal enough (even the ones that think they do usually dont)

2. most players at micros do not defend their blinds against steals enough (even the ones that think they do usually dont)

So you can steal more and fold when played back at because the player wont be playing back enough to actually stop your steals showing a profit.

Where a lot of people go wrong is they start stealing a lot and start to see people trying to play back. They then think .. he must be playing back .. I need to do something and that is when you lose money.

People rarely play back enough to prevent you from stealing with ATC from the button, folding to any raise without a decent hand and still show a profit.

Stu_Ungar said:

1. most players at micros do not steal enough (even the ones that think they do usually dont)

2. most players at micros do not defend their blinds against steals enough (even the ones that think they do usually dont)

So you can steal more and fold when played back at because the player wont be playing back enough to actually stop your steals showing a profit.

Where a lot of people go wrong is they start stealing a lot and start to see people trying to play back. They then think .. he must be playing back .. I need to do something and that is when you lose money.

People rarely play back enough to prevent you from stealing with ATC from the button, folding to any raise without a decent hand and still show a profit.

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Some bonus tips...I like it! Thanks.

1&2 - I actually acknowledge that I don't do either enough, but I have been working at it.

So I can really steal profitably with any 2 cards from the button?

And when I resteal I usually do it against someone who's been raising my blinds multiple times or against someone I have data on (ie. high VPIP and PFR numbers). And I've usually been raising about 3X their raise. Are either of these corrent or at least partly correct?

Yes you can profitably steal with ATC provided you pick tables hwere the blinds fold a lot.

When you resteal you need to be sure that your villian is a) stealing and b) capiable of folding.

So you are looking for a villian with tightish stats but very high PFR on the button (basically someone who is playing well)

If you try and resteal from a 50/30 type player he wont fold so you wouldnt want to resteal, but you would want to raise for value because he will call.

The type of player you re-steal against is the type of player who knows himself he is stealing. The player is capable of folding. The player is basically trying to play well.

If you try it against an idiot they wont fold.

And there are ALOT of idiots in the poker world.

Sean Pilgrim said:

And there are ALOT of idiots in the poker world.

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Yes these are the guys who look at their cards see K8o or A6s and think that they are amazng hands in a 100bb game.

You cant get them to fold because they think they hold an amazing hand.

But you can value bet them with AJ and KQ all day long

lol Who was that guy who was all blowing up on you in that one thread? Are they even here anymore?

I don't like to give away ANY information. If I'm playing with friends and it's folded to me in the BB and I have AA or KK then I might just show for kicks. Otherwise I'm not sharing any info.

Stu_Ungar said:

Yes you can profitably steal with ATC provided you pick tables hwere the blinds fold a lot.

When you resteal you need to be sure that your villian is a) stealing and b) capiable of folding.

So you are looking for a villian with tightish stats but very high PFR on the button (basically someone who is playing well)

If you try and resteal from a 50/30 type player he wont fold so you wouldnt want to resteal, but you would want to raise for value because he will call.

The type of player you re-steal against is the type of player who knows himself he is stealing. The player is capable of folding. The player is basically trying to play well.

If you try it against an idiot they wont fold.

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+1

I love cards show-ers espically the ones trying to run over the table and every once in a while they show you what they had to make you see they are legit, but the ones I like the best are the people who show a massive bluff. Thanks for the information pal (scribbles a note down) now I will call you light hit my hand and find you picked that time to play a legit hand and have me dominated .

Seriously I play sngs but the amount of times I have got in the money against people who have been showing you their killer moves and watched them min cash is amazing. The only time I show my hand is when its a showdown and now this you can put to your advantage if you have been priced in while stealing next time you get a big hand you can expect someone to think your full of crap and work it too your advantage.

I really don't believe in showing cards, but a few nights ago I was in a casino in Biloxi, MS. I was playing 1/2 NL. This guy was drunk and very aggressive. He was raising and reraising like a maniac. I was on the button and caught 9 4 off suit. He was UTG + 1 and raised to $20 (10x the BB, but a standard raise for him). It was folded around to me. I decided I was going to try him out. I 3-bet it to $65. He looked at me for about a minute then made it $150. I insantly shoved for about $400. He insta-mucked his cards. I turned up 9 4 and started singing that song... "Been caught steelin!" He dusted off another grand or so in the next hour and then left. It was a good night! But like I said in the beginning... I really don't believe in showing cards.

There aren't many good reasons to show in my opinion. I appreciate the entertainment value when someone shows pocket Aces that they were dealt or something when they have no callers. It's probably more effective (if that's what you're going for) live than online. Maybe some do it to put a player "on tilt" - but I still say, keep them guessing.

IT bears repeating. Showing cards is giving information. The less information we give the better.

IF... *IF* you can put someone on nuclear tilt by showing a bluff like drgilbert above, then it might be a good play.

But just about any other time it's just better to keep people guessing.

Showing your cards is a tool you can use. Like any tool, it should be used for the right purpose. Ask a mechanic: even a crescent wrench has its uses from time to time.

buttgirl

buttgirl said:

Showing your cards is a tool you can use. Like any tool, it should be used for the right purpose. Ask a mechanic: even a crescent wrench has its uses from time to time.

buttgirl

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Sure, but I've been convinced by the replies in this thread, that if I show my cards for this pupose...I am the tool.

Stu_Ungar said:

Its pointless.

If anything it just makes you look more of a newbie.

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couldn't agree more...