I'm noticing alot of people showing their cards during live play

To me, this is strange.

I have always went with the idea that you provide your opponent with the minimum amount of information possible, but I see ALOT of people showing thier cards during live play.

One guy made a very pronounced effort to wave his card (an ace) in front of me after one hand that I wasn't even in. Either I'm paranoid or he was making a statement based on the fact that I NEVER show my hand, nuts or otherwise.

More sophisticated strategies may include showing your cards, I don't know. But at this stage of my development I don't provide any information ever.

You?

I don't ever show unless I have too. Ignore them, they are either basking in thier own brilliance or trying to make some kind of statement that isn't worth figuring out like "look I wasn't bluffing" or " Look I was bluffing". So what? At the end of the day if I have all the chips I don't care.

only time i would show is if i had some huge hand, quads or better. otherwise your probably just giving your opponents free info.

Live poker is pretty much for fun anyways, sometimes I'll show one card or something so that villains think I'm a nicer guy and will show me their cards sometimes, or be less likely to make moves on me.

vanquish said:

Live poker is pretty much for fun anyways, sometimes I'll show one card or something so that villains think I'm a nicer guy and will show me their cards sometimes, or be less likely to make moves on me.

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It might be 'fun' at live 'home' games, but I can't think of any one of our casino players here that take it just as 'pretty much fun'.

Sure, it has to be 'fun' to play or we might not be doing it, but the folks here take their games seriously. We all have a lot 'fun' during the games, but at the end of the night, it's all about profit, or loss.

nevadanick said:

It might be 'fun' at live 'home' games, but I can't think of any one of our casino players here that take it just as 'pretty much fun'.

Sure, it has to be 'fun' to play or we might not be doing it, but the folks here take their games seriously. We all have a lot 'fun' during the games, but at the end of the night, it's all about profit, or loss.

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So you play with guys who just sit there and stare into the felt with their sunglasses and their fists tucked into their chin? If they're really doing that, instead of being nice to them, you can try needling them a lot, and bullying them verbally. There are pretty much a ton of ways to verbally exploit people at most casino games. That is, unless you're playing with zOMG professionals!

Standard really - I think there's a few reasons for it.

Some people do it to advertise how "smart" they are. Whether they're actually doing something clever is beside the point, for the most part. They're just fishing for someone to say "Ooh, nice hand" to them.

Either that or they do it because they want validation for their actions. "You would've folded this too, right? There's no way I could call with that board, right?" That's often the motivation when they show the person next to them but not the whole table.

Some people do it because everyone else is doing it.

Some people do it to be friendly, or as Van says, to increase the chances of others showing their cards. This isn't a bad reason for doing it, FWIW, just make sure you pick hands where it's really obvious what you had anyway. Big pocket pairs where everyone folds to your preflop raise are often a good one.

Some people do it just because they're asked to, or they're pressured into it - someone's staring at them and goading them to turn the cards over, and sometimes the brain just takes over.

Finally, some people do it just because the phrase "If I fold will you show me" is much, much more prevalent in live poker than it is online.

For the most part though, there's nothing wrong with mucking your cards without showing every single hand you can. Be aware, however, that if you follow this strategy, you may grow up to be Dewey Tomko

I agree in most situations it is foolish to show ones cards. However, sometimes showing your cards can get you paid big time. For instance if you are playing heads up and you move with K6 Off, and show, your opponent may be more likely to call a preflop all in with a more mediocre hand than once before. Sometimes this strategy has blown up in my face, other times it has allowed me to get a call when I have a monster and and my opponent has a small pp or a weak ace.

When I am playing with friends, and we are just tossing around pocket change, I have no problem showing my cards. One of the reason is that I'm not playing the same way I do when more money is on the line in a more serious environment. This is only how I feel about it though.

I like it when someone shows especially when it's a bluff, I think a good bluff is one of the most beautiful plays in poker, I like to show it and I like to see it.
YouTube - Phil Ivey v Paul Jackson - Bluff v Bluff

Always a bad idea, just soak up the info and be glad they do it

Just dumb play! The advice I've heard is only show after a bluff to keep them guessing.

TheNoob said:

To me, this is strange.
I have always went with the idea that you provide your opponent with the minimum amount of information possible, but I see ALOT of people showing thier cards during live play.
One guy made a very pronounced effort to wave his card (an ace) in front of me after one hand that I wasn't even in. Either I'm paranoid or he was making a statement based on the fact that I NEVER show my hand, nuts or otherwise.
More sophisticated strategies may include showing your cards, I don't know. But at this stage of my development I don't provide any information ever.
You?

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It's usually best to not show your hole cards, but sometimes showing the nuts or a bluff can work to your advantage when you pick the right spots to show your cards.

Example 1; Show a bluff and you just advertised to the table that you are a bluffer, now you can change gears and play solid and the next time you have the nuts, someone will think that you are bluffing again and you will probably get paid off. Showing a bluff is also a good way to get a weaker player to go on tilt, then that weaker player will probably start making foolish mistakes out of frustration.

Example 2; Show the nuts once in a while and then the weaker players will remember those strong hands and think later on that you may very well have the nuts again when a good bluffing opportunity arises.

The key is to not show your cards too often and to pick the right spots when doing so. :boxing:

The_OG_Rocco said:

pick the right spots when doing so. :boxing:

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Spot on... Depends on the night, how I'm feeling and the cards I'm getting but If I am bluffing I will show one or two and make them think I am at it! ... You get the nice cards someone will pay you off.

I would never show my carsds if I didnt have to why let your opponet know what way you play and make it easier for them to read your tells make them work for there information about you no free rides here

witl69 said:

I would never show my carsds if I didnt have to why let your opponet know what way you play and make it easier for them to read your tells make them work for there information about you no free rides here

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Why? For any number of the reasons outlined above.

I'll agree with not wanting to give your opponents free information. There are some times when you're really not giving anything away by showing though. Say it's folded to you in the cutoff, you raise with AA and everyone else folds. If you show the hand, what information are you really giving away? "ZOMGZ, this is the kind of guy that'll raise preflop with aces! Shock horrorz5!"

If everyone folds to your small blind, you raise and the big blind folds, does it really give anything away if you flash an ace? No - you oughta be raising with all kinds of hands in that spot, the fact you did it with an ace should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone.

I think of it kinda like a live straddle - you don't straddle because you really, really want the opportunity to act last under the gun. You do it because it encourages other people to do it, and you want that extra money in the pot when you're in position.

Similarly, you don't show your cards because you want to give away free information about how you play - you do it to encourage others to give away information to you.

Like I said above, there's nothing wrong per se with never showing your hand. Just be aware that it may turn you into Dewey Tomko (who's pretty baller for an old dude I guess, but still...). Also be aware there can be some upsides to it if you play it right.

showing cards is really fun cause you can really throw some people off of their game.. wait to catch them with a monster and BAM! more money for you. also if you show alot of great cards people will think your on a hot streak and be afraid to mess with you!

There are reasons for showing cards. I sometimes do it but lately have not. What I used to do is only show my strong hands and then everyone will peg me as super tight which lets me get away with bluffs later on. Plus all my continuation bets get respected. Then I can change gears and have hands that are really bad that no one puts me on and get a monster pot.Although this is live play not online. Online I have almost never showed my hand.

there are players and players like everywhre i don't show and u should show only when u want to not when your opponent demands it

Um really depedns were u play... what youre playing for.... People in live games will show their hand more often because they are unexperianced and dont think showing a bluff or the nuts will make a difference later on in the game.

The only time I think it's beneficial to show is when showing will
(a) add confusion to your developing table image,
(b) break an image you've created that everyone has recognized - just so that you keep playing the same strategy for a little while longer.

The only other reason is if you think it will totally put someone on tilt and destroy the quality of their game.

Other than that...let 'em guess.

People play live to have a good time. They dont mind losing some money if they enjoy themselves doing it, often while drinking excessively. Showing cards, especially after a bluff, is just people having a good time.

TheNoob said:

More sophisticated strategies may include showing your cards, I don't know. But at this stage of my development I don't provide any information ever.

You?

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You already said it!

There are times it can be useful, but overall Not showing > Showing. You would not hurt yourself much if you just never showed.

cAPS

showing has its place. its not a never never situation. lots of arguments above for making a show. lots for not. never never never well sometimes. now go to bed.

wow........ not me i never show any hands unless i have 2........ if they are showing there cards it's a huge advantage to your game...... good luck......