Re: NOOB question, checking your hole cards safely
 

Mid and upper level games: peek at turned up corners as described above.

Low limit games: I like to play drunk, raise blind and use plastic dog poop as a card protector. It can only improve your EV.

Re: NOOB question, checking your hole cards safely
 

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I take my cards place them under my pyramid and cover the cards with my hands. I then check the first card, and then I check the second one.

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I think there is another piece of advice hidden in here if you're nervous about the casino.
Do the same thing every time and then it's no problem with tells. And you can wait till its your turn every single time and it's your right. However do note that it is -EV to really slow the game down, so if you're not yet entirely sure what you'd do for most hand combinations, then you're better off to peek early and think about it for a while.

Re: NOOB question, checking your hole cards safely
 

I think there is another piece of advice hidden in here if you're nervous about the casino.

You really do think quick,ThinkQuick. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

However do note that it is -EV to really slow the game down, so if you're not yet entirely sure what you'd do for most hand combinations, then you're better off to peek early and think about it for a while.

I never considered a person would need time preflop to ponder a decision. Good catch. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: NOOB question, checking your hole cards safely
 

You know, I tried the chip cover , but it's just too clumsy IMO. When it's time to fold, it's just another move to make - taking the cover off - and then flipping the cards to the muck. Doesn't seem like much, but too time consuming for my tastes.

Only exception would be the 1 or 10 seat where your cards are always close to the muck.

Re: NOOB question, checking your hole cards safely
 

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You know, I tried the chip cover , but it's just too clumsy IMO. When it's time to fold, it's just another move to make - taking the cover off - and then flipping the cards to the muck. Doesn't seem like much, but too time consuming for my tastes.

Only exception would be the 1 or 10 seat where your cards are always close to the muck.

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OMG

There are 2 easy ways to do this, either (1) grab your cards and with a quick jerk your card cap will stay behind as your cards head towards the muck or (2) lift up your card cap and use the edge of it to push your cards in the muck.

Even if you're a klutz and can't do either of these, you'll learn to put up with the extra motion after some guy flings his cards and one or both of them get intangled with yours and your hand gets killed. If you protest, you'll get the standard "It's the players responsibility to protect their hand" retort from the floor.

Re: NOOB question, checking your hole cards safely
 

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Only exception would be the 1 or 10 seat where your cards are always close to the muck.

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I've seen dealers muck hands from many seats other than 1 and 10. Everytime it happens I'm stunned, like there wasn't even a bet or any action and the cards are near the table edge and the dealer just reaches for them while they're smushing the pot together and mucks 'em. This [censored] happens, and it can happen to you.
Also people sometimes radically miss when flinging cards, and a hand is dead if not protected.

Re: NOOB question, checking your hole cards safely
 

I am now a fan of just looking at one card at a time. I basically use both hands to make a barrier around the cards, then use my right thumb just to flick up the card so I can get a good glance of it. I just try to view each card individually. I guess I now prefer that method.

I am strong believer in two things. 1) Remembering your card and suit so you never have to look back at them. 2) Placing a chip on your cards if you plan to play the hand. That helps two fold. One your hand is protected incase someone else folds their hand and their cards land on yours (its bound to happen at least once to you). 2nd, holding your cards during any hand is just one extra tell you will have to worry about. If you already know the hand in your head, and never have to look back, it will just make it that more difficult to focus on the hand. Plus you spend less time actually looking at the cards, and more time looking around at every other single thing that is going at the table.

Re: NOOB question, checking your hole cards safely
 

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Don't use a "trinket". It's gay. Use a chip, like a man.

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I use a Ronald Reagan chip -- it's a trinket, it's a chip, and it's certainly not gay!

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I use a small rubber chicken. If you think it's gay, then I have the advantage of you. Raymer uses a fossil, hence the name "Fossilman." I use a chicken. You can call me "Chickenman" if you like.