Check in the Dark

[Buz]

3/6 at Trump Casino in Gary, IN:
The trouble with playing in the casino is there is no record, so once the cards are mucked, it's difficult to reconstruct. One situation I was curious about came up on the river in a heads-up battle. I recall being in a later position than my opponent with a hand I thought was best after the flop and the turn. I recall that I bet the turn (although, I might have raised it), he called and immediately announced, "Check in the dark." I can't remember the exact cards, but I remember feeling that the only way he would call me was if he had me beat /images/graemlins/confused.gif, so after the river card appeared, I checked behind him. I'm not sure what the "Check in the dark" should have told me. Was it simply a ploy to reverse the advantage of position?

Questions:
What should I be considering when someone employs this tactic?
In what situations is it valuable to use the "Check in the Dark"?
Is this a tool I should have in my arsenal along with the Free Card Play and the Semi-Bluff?
Or is it a play that should be left to the guys you see playing on ESPN?

[A_C_Slater]

Checking in the dark is for super advanced players only. It is not recommended for infantile neophytes such as you.

I'm out.

A C. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Buz]

What do I do when someone does it to me?

[spacemonkey57]

[ QUOTE ]
What do I do when someone does it to me?

[/ QUOTE ]

Assume his favorite pro is Marcel Luske? At trump 3/6 I would just play the river normally.

[JinX11]

Play your hand. Bet, if you think it's best. I think he's wanting a free showdown.

[Entity]

[ QUOTE ]
What do I do when someone does it to me?

[/ QUOTE ]
Depends. What's on the board? What do you have in your hand?

Rob

[A_C_Slater]

[ QUOTE ]
What do I do when someone does it to me?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would say that depends on the strength of your hand. If you were going to bet a check then bet. If you were going to check behind then check. If you bet and he raises then you'll know that nextime he dark checks he's hoping for a checkraise. He probably just wanted to get fancy because he saw David Williams use it in the World Series and he thinks it's the greatest "move" in all of poker.



Do you ever play at Greektown? I am from Michigan as well (about one hour from Ann Arbor in Grosse Ile.)

[Buz]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you ever play at Greektown? I am from Michigan as well (about one hour from Ann Arbor in Grosse Ile.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I've been there a few times. More success in the 5/10 game at Motor City or stopping in Gary on my way to Chicago.

Have you played in any of the private games in Novi or Canton?

[Noodles]

[ QUOTE ]
Checking in the dark is for super advanced players only. It is not recommended for infantile neophytes such as you.


[/ QUOTE ]
/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /images/graemlins/laugh.gif /images/graemlins/laugh.gif /images/graemlins/laugh.gif /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[A_C_Slater]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Do you ever play at Greektown? I am from Michigan as well (about one hour from Ann Arbor in Grosse Ile.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I've been there a few times. More success in the 5/10 game at Motor City or stopping in Gary on my way to Chicago.

Have you played in any of the private games in Novi or Canton?

[/ QUOTE ]

No. I assume these private games must be massive if you even bothered to ask?

[JoshuaD]

I play my hand exactly the same way I would as if he had just checked after the river fell.

People check in the dark to get you off your game. You're not used to the situation, so you don't know how to handle it. If he should be betting that river some percent of the time, then he's the one making the mistakes, not you.

I imagine check in the dark implies a weak hand, but I wouldn't bank on it. I'd play it exactly like a check after the river fell.