Showing hole cards after a successful bluff?

[dickie]

I've noticed a few players will reveal their hand after successfully bluffing out a pot. I normally don't show my cards to anyone if I don't have to, but I can see the value in this play, especially if you just bluffed out a big pot. It will infuriate your opponents to know that they threw away the best hands, and also induce them to loosen up, so you can squeeze more bets out of them when you do hit a hand.

Anyone else ever do this?

[Smackdab]

I make it a habit not to show any of my hands that haven't been called down. If the bluff was successful and you show I figure you better not plan on trying to run another one with that group.

However, it is good advertising to be caught occasionally. I write unsuccessful ones off to advertising. I find very beneficial in the early rounds of a tournament where it doesn't cost me much.

Just my 2 cents.

[Mason Malmuth]

Hi Dickie:

I never show my hands, including my bluffs. First, if I just stole a big pot, I would much prefer to do it again than gain an extra bet here and there. Second, why teach people how you play (or how to play). Remember, when you show a bluff, they can reconstruct your hand from the beginning.

Best wishes,
Mason

[Herb N.]

Never show a player that you just bluffed him out of a pot.Keep the table happy,and friendly.Play with class,and you will get more bad calls,loose poor players will gamble,and take the worst of it against people that I just discribed.Who wants to give thier dough to an a..hole?Besides I would rather win [more]intire pots[by bluffing than MAYBY picking up a bet someware.Rather than show your player a bluff let him believe he did the correct thing by telling him something like"good laydown".If a player folds too often let him do it.I do show my good hands at times usualy in tight games where mayby I have just pulled off several bluffs.This reinforces the players belief that Im a lucky shi..The only time showing a bluff MIGHT help a player is if his image is very weak tight.Play with class! /forums/images/icons/smile.gifP.S. Forgive my bad spelling..

[PokerBabe(aka)]

I was shown a bluff last year by a local well-known tournament player in a WSOP satellite. I had folded my 88 to an Ace on the flop and my opponent then turned over his 3,5 offsuit. Although I lost the hand, I did not comment nor did I tilt (which I belive was his goal in the play). I just remember thinking that I certainly hope he makes such a move the next time I am holding an Ace /forums/images/icons/tongue.gif /forums/images/icons/wink.gif . I think that showing bluffs is much more common in tournaments than in ring games. Personally, I can imagine very few times that I would use such a tactic. LGPG and no show, no tell..... Babe /forums/images/icons/heart.gif

[Dwayne]

I agree with everone's comments. Never showing a bluff is not a bad idea. However, on one occasion I showed my bluff and I think it was the right thing to do. It was a good night and I tripled my buyin. At that point I got no action. One player even anounced to the table that he would fold any cards if I was in the hand. Then came an opportunity for a good bluff, one of the slickest I have ever pulled off. When I showed my bluff the entire table reacted. I think when bad players see a bluff they think you have been bluffing much more than you really have. Anyway, I got all the action I wanted the rest of the night.

[JTG51]

I'll do it in my home game from time to time, especially against one particular maniac if he's been under control up till that point. What we do just barely passes for poker most of the time though.

I never have and never will in the casino. Mason already gave the two reason I would have in his post.

[SittingBull]

brought up an interesting point. What if U are NOT obtaining any action or very little action on your play(s)??
Then semi-bluff more frequently. U still do not need to show your hand.
Anyway,if U rarely come in, and THEN show a bluff when your opponents are not giving u any action,they will know that u are simply attempting to obtain some action when u do play your good hand(s) in the future--UNLESS U ARE PLAYING WITH NON-THINKERS. So U still have no valid reason to show your bluff.
U WILL be caught sooner or later--? willingly show?
I see NO justification for it.
U just have to bluff a little more frequently than it is mathematically correct to do so--and U will be caught! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

Happy Pokering,
Sitting Bull


Happy