Winner\'s peek
 

Hi,

You are playing Hold'em. You check on the river. He bet. You have nothing, so you fold. Then he peeks his hold card(s), and muck. He wins the pot.

My questions are...

What does this peek mean?

and

Why does he peek?

Thank you.

Soh

p.s. ...I don't like the peek[img]/forums/images/icons/mad.gif[/img], and I don't know why[img]/forums/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Re: Winner\'s peek
 

Roy West has written (about stud) that when an uncalled player takes a last look at his hole cards, it means he had a strong, "pretty" hand, such as a flush or full, that he wants to savor one more time. I'd say the same logic could apply in HE, depending on the player. When you bluff and win with nothing, why would you look at it?

Re: Winner\'s peek
 

maybe they are want you to think they had a strong pretty hand

Re: Winner\'s peek
 

> When you bluff and win with nothing, why would you look at it?

This makes sense. Thank you.
Now I guess I DO like people peeking thier cards because now I know that I didn't get bluffed out.

Soh

Re: Winner\'s peek
 

I agree with that also MRBAA. However, I think it's something different if everyone folds on the flop or turn. In that case I think he's often got a big draw that hasn't come in yet. A nut flush draw, a straight flush draw, something like that.

Re: Winner\'s peek
 

Usually it means he had a "pretty" hand that he had to see one last time. This is typically a flush, possibly trips or a boat, but definitely not a straight (they just aren't "pretty").

I stole this idea from Roy West, I think. I wonder if Larry "Sitting Bull" has answered this question similarly, yet (because I know he's a hardcore Roy West disciple!).

-- Homer

Re: Winner\'s peek
 

maybe they are want you to think they had a strong pretty hand

I've had this happen before. A player slapping his hand down on the table in disgust as I fold to his river bet. He then looks at his cards one last time, and in the process shows another player at the table.

I then asked to see the hand, which was a stone cold bluff. I was able to use the information to play a lot better against this player for the rest of the session.

Re: Winner\'s peek
 

A lot of times if a board gets real scary, I keep betting if my opponent appears unsure. Even if I can't remember my cards. A common example is a 4 flush on the board when headsup and I can't remember if I have one of the flush suit. If my opponent appears unhappy I'll keep firing rather than look. When they fold, I look just to know if I had a hand or not.

i completely agree n/m