showing your cards

MontrealMax

MontrealMax

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Hi there folk-a-renos,

I'm sorta kinda new to this site and am quite taken by it. I really appreciate the more experienced players taking the time to answer questions and giving direction and suggestions, thanks a bunch.

I was curious about something and wondered what some of you players thought on the matter of exposing one or both cards after someone(s) fold to your raise (re-raise). Is this a practice among some of you players like trying to put someone on tilt or to give the wrong perception of being loose and careless?
 
Karkus77

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i never show, nearly all good players never show, lots of bad players show

hope that helps :)
 
duggs

duggs

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generally speaking i never show, especially online, occasionally i show a bluff live if I feel i can get more action from loose passive and value bet thinner. never ever show good players, they get enough information on us as it
 
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BlueNowhere

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I pretty much never show online, no point. I show people when I play live just because I'm a fish who enjoys watching peoples reactions.

Edit: When I say never online I do show in CC games occasionally (tenbobs post reminded me that I do sometimes)
 
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tenbob

tenbob

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Meh, going by the book you should never, ever show, ever.

In a forum game ill show occasionally.

In a live cash game, ill show only under very specific circumstances. If the game is loose, fun and has a few drunks that are noticing that im playing tight, ill show a bluff or two to keep them happy.
 
F

Foxhound3857

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I don't mind showing once in a while to let people know that I'm capable of a loose play or a bluff (since I'm a TAG player and usually tight as ****), but I don't understand what the big stink is about never ever showing if you don't have to. I don't see what the big deal is, it's not gonna cripple you down the line.

If someone shows me their cards after making what looks like a difficult fold for them, I'm happy to show to satisfy their curiosity.
 
fletchdad

fletchdad

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I never show, but I play way to tight in the first place, and I dont play live. I do use my tight image to make big bluffs in a profitable situation, and if I get raised then my fold tells enough as it is.
 
Karkus77

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it comes down to a basic question

"would you want to show your opponent how you play certain cards?

the answer is a obvious no, even if you plan to play them differently next time, its just not a good idea to give your opponent any more information than you have too
 
shinedown.45

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I never show and never tell others to stop showing me their cards when they want to.
 
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budebuzz

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I say I never show but sometimes I just cant help it!:banghead:
 
LeanAndMean

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Never. I keep the auto fold option on. But when someone shows at my table I say, "thanks for showing" to encourage the idiot to continue doing so.
 
LeanAndMean

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And another point, when some1 asks me what I had I say either AA or 23 offsuit.
 
Tino11

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We all have our own arsenal of poker plays and moves. Some you use frequently, some you dont. Showing cards, at the right time, with the right players at the right table can be very useful.
I would say, use your judgement of the situation, if you think showing a bluff or a strong hand will benefit you in some way at some point later in the game, then do it. There are no 'never do this, or never do that' in poker. Its all situational.
As LeanAndMean added, telling someone you had a certain hand can also benefit you. But also remember, showing can sometimes work against you as well.
 
Karkus77

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if i get asked what i had, i always reply "Quads" no matter what the board is
 
Four Dogs

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Never say never. I'll occasionally show a big bluff if I think it will give me an image contrary to the way I generally play. Show one big bluff and get paid off with your big hands for the rest of the session. You'll also get looked up on the river by some weak hands that would ordinarily fold to a tighter (more predictable) player. If you play a solid game I don't think it's a bad thing for the other players at your table to know that a big bluff is in your toolbox. Yes, you shouldn't give away free information. Giving away mis-information is another story.
 
fletchdad

fletchdad

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I can see situations where showing could be useful later in the game against the players who saw you show, but IMO it is going to be the absolute exception. There have been a few situations where I was thinking of showing for some legit reasons, but decided not to. My attitude was "fuk them, let em wonder". I can either show a bluff or show I was as strong as I repped, but - again, IMO - I think if you dont show, you keep another advantage. You keep them wondering, and that can be as strategic as using the image you try to gain by showing. But I understand the exceptional show attitude, I just dont seem to use it in my approach.

I do - in CC games - show now and then, but I m a nit and this helps me remain one...lol
 
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Foxhound3857

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I use Tournament Indicator which shows me all mucked cards anyway, so no need for them to show me. I get to see what they had regardless.
 
K

KCcheckraise

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I say I never show but sometimes I just cant help it!:banghead:
So true, I'd like to say I don't but if someone makes a difficult fold and I have either pure garbage or a monster I'll show just to mess with peoples heads a bit.
Strategy wise it seems concealing your play is best, but hey, sometimes its worth it.
 
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hawtshawt420

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Well it seems like most people who do show only show bluffs and loose plays. I usually play pretty tight but I'll pull an occasional bluff. I'll show good hands if I bet strong sometimes. I think it take the opposite approach whereas others are showing bad hands in the hopes someone will call their good hands. I show the good hands in the hopes they won't just say i'm bluffing all the time. Esp if I raise 3-5 hands preflop in a row. (Maybe some bluff but I'll show the KK) Maybe the difference is I play more tourney's so 1 giant hand is good but not the same as a ring game. I guess it depends on what you want your table image to be and what you want to try to get away with.
 
fletchdad

fletchdad

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I use Tournament Indicator which shows me all mucked cards anyway, so no need for them to show me. I get to see what they had regardless.


Even in hands that dont get to SD????

Showing is more of an issue when someone folds to a bet, which means that - afaik - no software will help you see the other players cards.....
 
ROYALKNIGHT

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It all depends on what kind of mood im in. And if the player asks, I will show depending on if the player has been nice or rude during the game.
 
T

tcummo

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Depends if i'm drunk or sober
if i'm sober i don't show ,
can't remember what I do when i'm drunk....
 
MediaBLITZ

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DON'T EVER SHOW!!! Never? Well hardly ever.


IF you show you better have a damn good reason. Some of the reasons I use when that rare event of showing a card happens are:

"See, I don't bluff" (set up)

"See, I bluff all the time" (set up)

A "reward" for a bad play on their part that will reinforce continued bad play.

BUT you don't use these unless you are convinced you can get someone to pay you off HUGE. So don't ever do it if the guy you are directing it at only has like 30 BB. Otherwise you are cutting your own throat showing the whole table what can be used against you.
 
Ezekiel162

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When I first started playing I used to show "every so often" and wonder why I was getting beaten "every so often". Now I only show if there's a specific purpose in mind. Otherwise if they want to see my hand they'll have to pay for it...
 
N

NeonTiger

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I only show occasionally, when I know it will help me. I always liked showing my cards to Mr. Lynch after he folded.
 
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