Mucking, Both Early and Late

I DON'T use mucking as a tool to encourage/discourage calls/raises in the future. I DO use it to keep my table on edge, never knowing what is in my hand or mind. The way I do this is simple: I use an online randomizer to select from the binary options every time.

I have found that it increases the instability of the game, which benefits me as a less-than-pro player. I use this same approach in chess; I try to get out of theory as soon as possible to eliminate the advantage my opponent(s) has in experience and knowledge.

What do you do? Do you always muck (either as a strategy or because it's just a quickset option)? Do you selectively choose when to show air/aces? What is your philosophy?

I always muck. Not a grand philosophy, except that you want to give away as little information as possible.

BuzzKillington said:

I always muck. Not a grand philosophy, except that you want to give away as little information as possible.

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Is there value in having your opponents never trusting that information? My thought is that while they get more information, it is increasingly less valuable; they might see 46 off or KK with the same 4x BB preflop bet - but I eliminate myself from the show/not show leaving them with no reliable pattern of data. At least, I hope that's what I'm doing

I always act different I its not a specific tactic to confuse opponents not allowing them to remember all my tactical moves thus confusing them

Sometimes this allows you to tease your nervous opponent. To get the opponent out of balance means to force him to make wrong decisions. In other cases - do not give the enemy more information about his game.

Great Point!

Andrew Popov said:

Sometimes this allows you to tease your nervous opponent. To get the opponent out of balance means to force him to make wrong decisions. In other cases - do not give the enemy more information about his game.

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I never considered that I might be revealing to my villains THEIR game play tendencies - thanks for the insight!

gogadgetdx said:

What do you do? Do you always muck (either as a strategy or because it's just a quickset option)? Do you selectively choose when to show air/aces? What is your philosophy?

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If we're talking about hands that didn't go to showdown then I muck every time. There might be some marginal benefits in some cases to showing but if you're multitabling you're almost certainly far better off concentrating on your other hands than spending any brainpower on whether or not you should show. I get that you're automating the decision after a fashion, but still... I'd just muck.

If we're talking about hands that do go to showdown then you're wasting your time, because anyone who wants to know what you had, whether you "mucked" or not, can just check the hand history.

Mix it up don't do the same every time.

No Muck Live - Online Maybe

In live games, where you can see your opponents face-to-face, I only show Quads or monster hands that win without a showdown. And then, only if the situation is right. It all depends on the nature and mood of the players at the table.

Online I will show one card at times; especially heads up. Usually it is a deuce.

I rarely ever show. When I do show it’s in hands went I make a tendency breaking play.

I will only show straight flush and maybe quads if people on my table are friendly

Showing only 1 card?

Herkstwin said:

In live games, where you can see your opponents face-to-face, I only show Quads or monster hands that win without a showdown. And then, only if the situation is right. It all depends on the nature and mood of the players at the table.

Online I will show one card at times; especially heads up. Usually it is a deuce.

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Which online sites permit you to choose to show only 1 card?

Always muck no free information for opponents. Sometimes I bet a river just to not have to show.

Will show only in friendly games like our CC ones.

gogadgetdx said:

Which online sites permit you to choose to show only 1 card?

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Stars

joeisi said:

Always muck no free information for opponents. Sometimes I bet a river just to not have to show.

Will show only in friendly games like our CC ones.

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I show a lot in CC games myself? It's fun and we are all trying to get better!

Playing Live - I muck and lie about what I had all day long.

gogadgetdx said:

Is there value in having your opponents never trusting that information? My thought is that while they get more information, it is increasingly less valuable; they might see 46 off or KK with the same 4x BB preflop bet - but I eliminate myself from the show/not show leaving them with no reliable pattern of data. At least, I hope that's what I'm doing

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First- 4x bet with 46o is not a profitable play in the long run, even if you win bluffs.

Second- if you always muck (I do), then at any time you could have the same 4x bet with KK or 46o anyway. What you are doing is giving out free info which is not necessary to have the same effect.

They said, there are times when showing to specific players at specific times because you have info on them can put them on tilt. That has merit but this should be very selective and more likely more valuable only live.

in cah games it better to muck soo opponents dont know your strategy because you play in one table and same opponents most of time..in tournaments i muck rarely because you play always different players and sometimes you wanna show your perfect hand or bluff heh

I'd Rather

Play your cards and count your outs Have fun

Personally, I never show. But that is mainly because I don't think I know how to utilize it yet! Sometimes I will with strong hands just to display that I'm not bluffing.

Playing multiple tables, I alway muck.

it can actually be very profitable to show my hand to consolidate your image on the table but do not overdo it so as not to give too much information to your opponents.

I almost always muck. There are times when if I feel that showing a hand will cause an opponent to make future mistakes against me, I will show a bluff.

For example, I am playing against an opponent that tends to call in spots he shouldn't. I then play a hand where a scare card comes and my opponent through their actions made it obvious to me that they fear I am now ahead. I will make a bluff and if they fold, will show to encourage them to make more loose calls against me in the future. Even if they did call, I would be sure to show my losing hand to again encourage them to make those same calls later that will make up for what I lost on this hand.

But this is very situational and its not the norm for me.

I show bluffs I normally never do. Or moves I normally never do. To make my opponents get wrong impression of me. If I am in an important MTT i never show.

I will show my hand at random when i win the pot with a bet or I have the option of showing it. You never know what I will show and I have found that its brought me some success when I show a bluff on a huge board and then actually have the hand with another huge board and get paid off because the opposing player thinks I am bluffing.

I love showing it online. Not sure about real life though, only if I'm super comfortable.