Useless information?

I was playing some live cash limit over the weekend. I got some information on a player but couldn't figure out how (if possible) to use it.

He didn't look at the cards until it was his turn to act.

When he played in a hand, he would sometimes exchange the position of the cards (top and bottom)

When showed down, he would turn up his cards and the bigger card was always on top (unless it was a pair obv)

So basically when looking at his cards, he would put the bigger one on the bottom, so when he flipped them up the bigger card was on top.

Thoughts?

my 1st thought is then raise him and represent a big pair. if he does not rearrange his hand the quite possibly he has a pair, while understanding that the bigger card may already be on the bottom. but if he does rearrange them then pop him till he quits or until you believe he hit and has you beat. or not lol

The only useless information is the information you don't have.

I feel like any information is useful. As long as you pick up on something that you think can benefit you another hand, you're gonna be able to use it to your advantage.

No card switch could = pocket pair.

Of course he doesn't do it all the time but if a hand ever comes up where he is repping a set and he didn't do his card switch routine you can give him more credit.

If used in conjunction with other info this may be a big advantage. Say you narrow his PP range according to bet sizing. Now you know if wet boards are more easily bluffed at.

I know when I play live, I don't look at my hole cards til it's my time to act.

I try to watch the other players look at there hole cards to try and find a tell, like switching there cards top / bottom as you saw.

Seeing someone do this will give you some info. No switch means, they have a possible PP or the higher card is already on the bottom.

A switch means, they don't have a PP, so you may be able to exploit that info.

So hypothetically, you have some definite info 1/3 of the time.

The problem with waiting until your turn to look at your cards...is if you are in late pos, EVERYONE is watching you. I know most pros do this, but they have experience with tells, they know how to act and have studied themselves.
I look quickly when I get my cards, and then watch everyone else look at theirs...
I often switch my cards top to bottom over and over, just a habit. Some I throw away some I play...but thanks for the HU, I will make sure I am not doing anything as stupid as that guy...you were paying attention to notice that the high card was going on the bottom, not sure I would have picked up on that.

I play some home games now or then with a friends, stakes are micro that almost can be thought that we are playing chips, i try to look at their acts but every clue that i think i get proves to be wrong, is there a some way how and what to watch because so far i found nothing.

not one of them ever played any other cash game live or online, they are not very good, but the thing i wanting to develop playing there is to read people for my possible real live games in future...

aero87 said:

I was playing some live cash limit over the weekend. I got some information on a player but couldn't figure out how (if possible) to use it.

He didn't look at the cards until it was his turn to act.

When he played in a hand, he would sometimes exchange the position of the cards (top and bottom)

When showed down, he would turn up his cards and the bigger card was always on top (unless it was a pair obv)

So basically when looking at his cards, he would put the bigger one on the bottom, so when he flipped them up the bigger card was on top.

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

I never look at my cards until it's my turn to act. I want to watch everyone do their actions specifically so I can pick up something like you did. If he doesn't rearrange his cards then there's a chance he has a pocket pair.

Plus, the fact that he doesn't look until his turn means it's more likely that he's observant of you and the others.

It's not super useful, but it's definitely not useless.

DrazaFFT said:

I play some home games now or then with a friends, stakes are micro that almost can be thought that we are playing chips, i try to look at their acts but every clue that i think i get proves to be wrong, is there a some way how and what to watch because so far i found nothing.

not one of them ever played any other cash game live or online, they are not very good, but the thing i wanting to develop playing there is to read people for my possible real live games in future...

Click to expand...

Here are some things:

Actions that seem out of the ordinary. Like maybe they rub their hands together when they have strong holdings.

People acting after you holding their cards like they are folding. This can be a false tell but usually those who do it do so regularly. In key spots its helpful like when calling a early raiser in late position because you know a fold is coming after you act.

Signs of increased heart rate. Probably won't see this in a "fun" game for micro stakes as much though.

False tells. Actions that are overly obvious. These can signal certain types of play and be observant on any showdowns when you feel they are employed and watch for them in the future.

These are some nice advises hobonc, ill definitely pay attention next time we play

Interesting. The one thing that occurs to me (as others have already mentioned) is that if he switches cards he probably doesn't have a pocket pair.

Also, it may be he switches cards only if he has a big card, or a hand he wants to play?