Looking At Your Cards

Hey all! Quick question. Not sure if it's been asked here or not, so if it has, my apologies.

When playing live, whether it's a tournament or a ring game, when do you look at your cards?

I've noticed that a lot of people take a peek at them as soon as they get them...some of them even one at a time, not even waiting for the second card (or third, or fourth, etc.).

I was taught not to look at them until it is your turn to act. If I am under the gun, a few of my friends taught me that it is proper etiquette to wait until all the cards have been delt before looking.

Thoughts?

I dunno if it's etiquette so much, but a common line of thinking is that you shouldn't look at your cards until it's your turn to act because if you look at them immediately and it's a bad hand then you probably won't pay attention to what the other players are doing and you might miss some important information.

Whether you agree with that logic is another question I guess...

I am always waiting until I got both cards because of first paying attention and second because I do not want to see the cards separated. If I get an Ace first I am excited and think about what I could do with that Ace but if then comes a 7 or whatever bad card I have to change strategy... So I decided to wait until I got my cards but then I take a quick look, anyway! If I am in early position I take look as soon as possible, if I am in late position I do the same. So I don't make a difference between the positions...

There is no etiquette or manners involved. It would not be considered rude to immediately look at your cards. No turn taking is established. Just never remove your cards from the table.

HOWEVER - you should be paying attention to the other players who ARE looking at their cards to try to pick up some valuable info - especially from the players who come after you. For example you are in the HJ and the cards are dealt. Because you are not looking at your cards you notice the BTN look at his cards then immediately look at his chip stack, sit straight up and it looks like he is counting. It comes "your turn" to look and you have AJ. Normally you would 3x bet that but the BTN seemed suspiciously anxious to get this hand going, so you can fold. Sure enough the BTN shoves his stack and turns over KK when the BB calls him.

OR - you are in MP and as soon as you can you look at your cards - even before the UTG. You see 72o. You know you are not going to get in this hand so your incentive for paying attention to everyone else is greatly reduced. You just sit there waiting to fold. If you had not looked you are going to pay more attention to the action before you because there is a chance you are going to be in this hand.

OR - same as above but you are on the BTN. I am on your right and i notice you look and go into passive mode (which 72o can easily do to you). This helps open the door for me to attempt to steal the blinds since I figure you are going to fold anyway - doesn't matter what my cards are.

So the point is to keep your attention on the other players - your cards can wait until the last second - it won't change a thing.

Sometimes I like to look at them as soon as I get them and sometimes I wait until it is my turn to act until I look at them, it depends

I always thought it would be better to look at them soon after you get them. If everyone waits until its their turn, you can stare them down one at a time and try and pickup on any tells/reactions to the cards.
I don't see too much of an advantage either way, but don't take my advice too seriously, I rarely play live so it's no issue for me.

great "beyond tells" video on You Tube about this, find it and watch it.

I'll check it out, thanks!

And, thank you everyone for your input. I'll keep it in mind!

no etiquette involved. If you like to 'read' other players, wait until it's your turn to act. otherwise, whenever you want. Just make sure to cover them - lots of players will sneak a peek if you're careless.

i believe in looking at my cards as soon as i get them and then i watch the others as they look at theirs. this whole thing about waiting your turn is kind of silly to me. why should i wait so that everybody can look at me when i look at my cards? don't want to give them any info. i would rather use the time figuring out my move than just sitting there waiting my 'turn.'

I am trying to work on my "player reading" skills.

Also, reading these replies reminds me of my Euchre tournament days (those of you who know what Euchre is). When you were dealt your cards, you were not to look at them until the dealer counted the kitty and turned up the bidding card. That way, if there was a missdeal, the dealer had his/her chance to catch it and ask for the cards back. If they don't catch it, that is counted as a misdeal and the dealer lost their advantage (i.e., having to pass the deal to the other team).

Maybe that's where my idea of etiquette came from...other than my buddies.

EDIT: I am misspelling "dealt." I feel stupid lol.

I used to just look at my cards when I get them, but I agree with posts above. Watch the chip leaders reaction or players that are singling you out to see if u can pick anything up and use it to your advantage

I always wait for it to be my turn before I look at my cards.

Instead, I pay attention the other players and see what they're doing. Most weak players tend to give off really basic tells of when they're interested in playing a hand or not. Some examples are:

-Holding the cards in their hand, ready to fold when it gets to them
-Putting a chip on their cards, then holding enough to limp in.
-Putting a chip on their cards, then counting out a raise and holding it in their hand or putting it next to the stack for easy access.

So, I like to look for these to see who might be doing what as it might change how I'll play my hand or what hands I decide to play.

And don't forget, the players who lack the discipline to wait and are looking at their cards as soon as they get them... well those are more than likely the lesser experienced players at the tables and the one's most likely to have the tells you are looking for. But you won't see them if you are more interested in having to know what your cards are as soon as you can see them.

If I'm not mistaken many games in the casinos operate with a 'not picking your cards up until all are dealt' rule. However I don't think this is an enforced rule in tournament play.

Personally, I always wait until it's my turn to act before looking at my cards. Firstly, so I don't inadvertently give off any tells myself and secondly, so I can spend the time whilst play is reaching me observing the other players as they look at their cards and act.

If I am first to act I wait until everyone has two cards dealt. I don't know why, force of habit perhaps...

A good tip along similar lines to this topic is when the flop is dealt don't look at the cards, watch the players. The cards will still be on the table for you to see a few moments after the flop is dealt and if you're staring at the flop you might miss visual clues from other players.