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benrasberry
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I'm of the belief that showing your cards is almost always bad for your game in the long run. Sure, you might be able to make an opponent upset by showing cards sometimes, but you have also given the whole table information on how you play. Not worth it in my opinion.
I can't remember the last time I showed my cards when I didn't need to.
I can't remember the last time I showed my cards when I didn't need to.
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benrasberry
Enthusiast
Silver Level
One more thing - the premise behind showing your opponents your cards to 'tilt' them rests on flawed logic. You may like to think that you are going to make that player play worse, but all you're doing is motivating them to play better specifically against you.
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ender0713
Enthusiast
Silver Level
Rarely, to Occassionally...
Great thread topic!
I will show my cards sometimes... and for different reasons... Some people think 'showing is weakness', but poker is a 'mind-game', and 'showing your cards', or 'a card', can be POWERFUL if you do it properly. It can really mess with a players head and cause them to act differently:
1) It can be done to influence overall table action, and to tilt a short stack by showing a bluff.
2) For good sportsmanship heads up.
3) For fun, to see who was ahead (To put a player on a "range")
4) To get a feel for how the cards are coming out... 'showing your cards' influences other players to show theirs as well.
5) Or, it can be employed to show that you are not bluffing, and playing to a tight-strong-conservative game. You can create this 'table image' and make it last as long as you continue that pattern of play.
6) Or, you can just "not show" ever, to give away "no free information"
(but that's no fun... trust me ... you can win 1st in any tournament and show cards randomly and sparingly throughout the tournament).
7) Out of respect
sometimes i'll show one if they show one, or I'll show both if they show both, but typically, I only do this if im big stack at the table, or top 10 in the tourney chip lead.
IN CONCLUSION,
it's all about how you show them, and the level of play, the players are at, that you're playing against, because people are smart, and if youre doing this(showing cards)... you better be good at changing gears in a profitable way... because others will adapt... Thus, so must you.
I believe that it's probably more profitable for a new player to not show their cards, because it makes them look stronger.
Where as, if you've been playing for a while and know the game - but feel stagnant, then it might be in your benefit to show some cards every once in a while, just to mix it up... but do it in a tactful and tactical way.
GOOD LUCK ALL!
(Labor Under Correct Knowledge)
Great thread topic!
I will show my cards sometimes... and for different reasons... Some people think 'showing is weakness', but poker is a 'mind-game', and 'showing your cards', or 'a card', can be POWERFUL if you do it properly. It can really mess with a players head and cause them to act differently:
1) It can be done to influence overall table action, and to tilt a short stack by showing a bluff.
2) For good sportsmanship heads up.
3) For fun, to see who was ahead (To put a player on a "range")
4) To get a feel for how the cards are coming out... 'showing your cards' influences other players to show theirs as well.
5) Or, it can be employed to show that you are not bluffing, and playing to a tight-strong-conservative game. You can create this 'table image' and make it last as long as you continue that pattern of play.
6) Or, you can just "not show" ever, to give away "no free information"
(but that's no fun... trust me ... you can win 1st in any tournament and show cards randomly and sparingly throughout the tournament).
7) Out of respect
sometimes i'll show one if they show one, or I'll show both if they show both, but typically, I only do this if im big stack at the table, or top 10 in the tourney chip lead.
IN CONCLUSION,
it's all about how you show them, and the level of play, the players are at, that you're playing against, because people are smart, and if youre doing this(showing cards)... you better be good at changing gears in a profitable way... because others will adapt... Thus, so must you.
I believe that it's probably more profitable for a new player to not show their cards, because it makes them look stronger.
Where as, if you've been playing for a while and know the game - but feel stagnant, then it might be in your benefit to show some cards every once in a while, just to mix it up... but do it in a tactful and tactical way.
GOOD LUCK ALL!
(Labor Under Correct Knowledge)
Last edited by a moderator:
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TomCj
Rock Star
Bronze Level
I typically only occasionally show my winning hand
Most often I use it as an intimidation strategy when I win with top pair or better after betting the flop and pushing other players to fold
I want them to expect me to have the winning hand, and so, hopefully, fold when I bluff
TC
Chica_bonita
Sad Funny Lady🌬
Bronze Level
I don't usually show my cards. I think this is important information and opponents should not see which hand I am playing with.
But sometimes at the table I impress some participants and they impress me. In this case, we start our own game. If we have entered the game with such a player in two, then at the end of the hand we show each other the cards. It makes me laugh. I also sometimes fold very strong hands, fearing that the opponent has a higher combination. In this case, I can also show my cards. If the opponent hesitates and eventually discards (with a large pot), I also show my cards.
But the described situations do not occur so often. Basically, I don't show my cards.
But sometimes at the table I impress some participants and they impress me. In this case, we start our own game. If we have entered the game with such a player in two, then at the end of the hand we show each other the cards. It makes me laugh. I also sometimes fold very strong hands, fearing that the opponent has a higher combination. In this case, I can also show my cards. If the opponent hesitates and eventually discards (with a large pot), I also show my cards.
But the described situations do not occur so often. Basically, I don't show my cards.
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TpaEnforcement
Visionary
Bronze Level
I have never liked showing cards, I have always been a player if anyone wants to see cards they have to pay. But I think this year I might change my strategy, it might help me more to hook line and sinker players. Show how and when I raise, then switch it up to try to suck players in for more value bets. I have to try new things this year, differently to try to win more tournaments this year.
