Showing A Bluff - Opinions

SeaRun · Apr 1, 2014

I watched an old episode of a WPT final table this morning where Phillipe the Frenchman played Mad Man Marvin the German. One of the first hands in heads-up the Frenchman showed Marvin the bluff.

What are your opinions on doing this? I think it's despicable personally. I like to take anyone's money, but this is a downright insult IMHO.

When I was at one of my first casino cash games, a Vietnamese guy was sitting to my right, a big gambler and liked to play lots of hands. There was this one pot where 4 players were in big, and by the River, only the guy next to me and a guy across were left in, when my neighbour shoved into what had to be a $600 pot. The other guy took a long time before folding and the Vietnamese guy jumped up, started screaming and shouting and ceremoniously threw down 7-2 face up that was beaten by the board. The other got up with a smile on his face, walked around the table, held out his right hand to shake the hand of the guy next to me. Once hands clasped, buddy caved in the bluffers face with one huge left fist. He hung on to the hand keeping the guy from falling and said "You can win money off me any time, but don't ever insult me."

He went back to his seat, handed the dealer enough cash to top off his stack to $200 and played on. The pit boss asked the bleeding guy if he wanted the cops called, he said no, but I'd appreciate it if you could have a cab called to get me to hospital.

My thought to the other guy "Well played".

Carl Trooper · Apr 1, 2014

Why would you think showing a bluff is "despicable".

It is part of the game. Showing a bluff could be to trick your opponent into thinking you are a maniac, or capable of making plays. This could lead to getting paid off in the future. Of course, it also could lead to another bluff being caught.

Either way it is 100% part of the game. The guy who punched the other should be arrested, and if someone ever punched me for showing a bluff.... god help them haha.

angelluv725 · Apr 1, 2014

WOW. Please never show me a bluff, lol. I have felt like doing that a few times, but realized it was to put me on tilt. Sometimes I will call them a thief and move on.

LM93 · Apr 1, 2014

The only time i'll ever show my hand is when i hit quads or better, and even then there are situations where i wont show, dependent on the level of players at the table i suppose as a lot of players don't have the ability to use certain information to there advantage.

SeaRun · Apr 1, 2014

Carl, I guess that in any game I ever played, I did my best to do so with respect and courtesy for my opponent. I've tried to carry that to real live sports like golf, hockey, baseball, etc and on-line games like Evony, Battle Pirates, backgammon, etc.

I've always tried to live by the cliche "Do unto others as you would have done unto you".

Yes, I realize it's a part of the game. I've seen bluffs shown before in live poker, including TV, but always after a question "If I fold, will you show?" I've only had one shown to me online, and it bothered me. Not because I lost the pot, but the attitude of the player.

Just me and my funny ways maybe.

EDIT:

I was a goalie in hockey, and everyone says goalies are weird.

Arjonius · Apr 1, 2014

I can understand showing a bluff to an opponent if my experience with him suggest it will put him off his game. But I don't understand why some people act obnoxiously or otherwise show off after a successful bluff.

SeaRun · Apr 1, 2014

Arjonius said:
I can understand showing a bluff to an opponent if my experience with him suggest it will put him off his game. But I don't understand why some people act obnoxiously or otherwise show off after a successful bluff.

As always, well stated.

SANDYHOOKER KY · Apr 1, 2014

I'll show a bluff to a player that constantly raises pre flop for no apparent reason or when a player is obviously stealing a lot. Then, when you have a lock, you can make it look like your bluffing again and get paid big time.

teepack · Apr 1, 2014

SANDYHOOKER KY said:
I'll show a bluff to a player that constantly raises pre flop for no apparent reason or when a player is obviously stealing a lot. Then, when you have a lock, you can make it look like your bluffing again and get paid big time.

I agree. You can use this technique strategically. If I've pulled off a bluff against a player that I suspect is a good player, I won't show it. But if I have successfully bluffed somebody who I don't think is very good, I will show it to them and hope it will encourage them to play a lesser hand the next time (I won't try to bluff them twice in a row if I show the first one).

Carl Trooper · Apr 1, 2014

teepack said:
I agree. You can use this technique strategically. If I've pulled off a bluff against a player that I suspect is a good player, I won't show it. But if I have successfully bluffed somebody who I don't think is very good, I will show it to them and hope it will encourage them to play a lesser hand the next time (I won't try to bluff them twice in a row if I show the first one).

Thats pretty much what I am getting at.

I get the argument of showing it and acting like a clown... but showing it otherwise is simply fine.

dasher · Apr 1, 2014

SeaRun said:
My thought to the other guy "Well played".

Are you kidding? How can you condone that kind of violent reaction -- being insulted doesn't cut it.

The man should be arrested and thrown in jail for assault. He should pay all medical expenses related to the injuries he inflicted as well as pain and suffering.

I would never return to that casino and I would report their behavior to the police. To just continue as though nothing happened is just wrong.

lilnewtdog · Apr 2, 2014

Seems logical but if you do show your bluff you can't do it again cause everyone knows your capable and will call the next time. The only time I like to show my hand is when I'm folding something, some sites don't let you do that. Yea it's always better to show how tight you are rather than show how loos you are. I want people thinking they can bluff me.

lilnewtdog · Apr 2, 2014

Anger comes from within I am the only one who controls it

vic75 · Apr 2, 2014

In the right situation you can pull of a bluff its part of the game but when your opponent has Aces or Kings against a soft board then more often than naught your bluff will be called :icon_blac

MAX101 · Apr 2, 2014

I've never shown a bluff, but I can't say I never will depends on the player I'm up against, played last night, live up against a maniac ,kept raising preflop then if anyone called would raise again, just kept trying to push people off the pot, worked for him most of the time, but I did bluff him out of one hand, just played his game, he would raise then I would reraise him he ended up folding on the river after I reraised him he showed but I didn't , he had me beat ,he asked me to show but I just smiled, but I really wanted to lol, took down a really nice pot lol!!!!

torosanti012 · Apr 2, 2014

Only show a bluff when you think it's gonna help you make more money. Apart from that you shouldn't show a bluff. But it's all part of the game, so it's not despicable.

dealio96 · Apr 2, 2014

Showing bluffs can have positive and negative effects on the outcome of your game. I personally don't mind showing them once and awhile to tilt a fish, but if its a solid player, and he shows a good laydown, I simply tell em "good fold" and move on. I don't want to damage future credibility with that "solid player"

JusSumguy · Apr 2, 2014

lilnewtdog said:
Anger comes from within I am the only one who controls it

It's amazing how something so simple, is impossible to grasp by most folks.

It's just a decision. Like... what channel shall I watch.

-

wanderingthehall · Apr 2, 2014

SeaRun said:
I watched an old episode of a WPT final table this morning where Phillipe the Frenchman played Mad Man Marvin the German. One of the first hands in heads-up the Frenchman showed Marvin the bluff.

What are your opinions on doing this? I think it's despicable personally. I like to take anyone's money, but this is a downright insult IMHO.

When I was at one of my first casino cash games, a Vietnamese guy was sitting to my right, a big gambler and liked to play lots of hands. There was this one pot where 4 players were in big, and by the River, only the guy next to me and a guy across were left in, when my neighbour shoved into what had to be a $600 pot. The other guy took a long time before folding and the Vietnamese guy jumped up, started screaming and shouting and ceremoniously threw down 7-2 face up that was beaten by the board. The other got up with a smile on his face, walked around the table, held out his right hand to shake the hand of the guy next to me. Once hands clasped, buddy caved in the bluffers face with one huge left fist. He hung on to the hand keeping the guy from falling and said "You can win money off me any time, but don't ever insult me."

He went back to his seat, handed the dealer enough cash to top off his stack to $200 and played on. The pit boss asked the bleeding guy if he wanted the cops called, he said no, but I'd appreciate it if you could have a cab called to get me to hospital.

My thought to the other guy "Well played".

Geez, what country are you in?? I'm really leaning towards you made this story up. There's no poker room I know of that will allow one player to punch another in the face and keep playing. In fact, I doubt most would even give the other player the option of calling the police, it would be automatic or at least have security there instantly.

Oh, and it's not insulting to show a bluff. It's part of poker.

cotta777 · Apr 2, 2014

Something that really amuses me sometimes is if ive been playing tight live having no hands... middle stage ive got my tight image and respect for a raise,
ill make a strong play pre flop with something like 7,2 or 9,3

And il show my rags to everyone's bemusement when i take down pre or rep an ace, or king on the flop.

Its not really a help but then again its a pshycological edge because people realise your capable of anything

JamaicanKid · Apr 3, 2014

SANDYHOOKER KY said:
I'll show a bluff to a player that constantly raises pre flop for no apparent reason or when a player is obviously stealing a lot. Then, when you have a lock, you can make it look like your bluffing again and get paid big time.

This :thumbs up:

self_mahatma · Apr 3, 2014

I rarely show my cards. Even if I show, I show only strong hands that justify my play till then. If I show weak hands or bluffs, I feel like people won't take me seriously making the game hard on me.

Staneff · Apr 3, 2014

showing a bluff after enemy fold is most sweet thing in poker

crusinnn · Apr 3, 2014

I only show a bluff if necessary like if if it's part of a plan that I'm cooking but showing a bluff just to show off is an asshole move unless that person/player deserve the insult. I do this from time to Time spitefully to a player whose full of shit to make them tilt or hoping to make them tilt. It actually worked and when I kick them out the other players thanked me

I saved the day lol

SeaRun · Apr 3, 2014

crusinnn said:
I only show a bluff if necessary like if if it's part of a plan that I'm cooking but showing a bluff just to show off is an asshole move unless that person/player deserve the insult. I do this from time to Time spitefully to a player whose full of shit to make them tilt or hoping to make them tilt. It actually worked and when I kick them out the other players thanked me I saved the day lol

Actually, I like that. It's been noted I hate showing, but I believe in an eye for an
eye too, and in your example, well justified.

Showing A Bluff - Opinions

SeaRun

Visionary

Carl Trooper

Degenerate Idiot

angelluv725

Legend

LM93

Rising Star

SeaRun

Visionary

Arjonius

Legend

SeaRun

Visionary

SANDYHOOKER KY

Rock Star

teepack

Legend

Carl Trooper

Degenerate Idiot

dasher

Enthusiast

lilnewtdog

Rock Star

lilnewtdog

Rock Star

vic75

Legend

MAX101

Visionary

torosanti012

Enthusiast

dealio96

The LAG Monkeys

JusSumguy

Chipmonger

wanderingthehall

Rock Star

cotta777

Visionary

JamaicanKid

Visionary

self_mahatma

Rising Star

Staneff

Rock Star

crusinnn

Rock Star

SeaRun

Visionary

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