When your opponent wants to see your cards for free...

[cold_cash]

This happened to me awhile back at the casino. The guy sitting right across from me folded his cards face up and I took the pot. I actually had a better hand than he did, but not the one he expected.

He then asked me, "I know you had this beat, right?" I looked right at him and without smiling, nodded my head up and down in agreement and said, "No." He did kind of a double-take with a confused look on his face, but he didn't ask me about my cards anymore after that. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Yardbird]

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She then says "So did you have the flush?"

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"Yeah; but, it was small..." is all you had to say! Your way made the fish play better against you and only you. I always lie by confirming the most likely suspicions of my inquisitor---that way, they will continue to fold their better hands to my (semi-)bluffs and everyone is happy [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] If you can't pull off that lie, perhaps you should think about picking up backgammon. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Yardbird]

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In this instance, I would have said, "I had a medium diamond and lucked out on the river."

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Too much information! That's a hallmark of fabrication. See other post for a better response.

[Sundevils21]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
She then says "So did you have the flush?"

[/ QUOTE ]

"Yeah; but, it was small..." is all you had to say! Your way made the fish play better against you and only you. I always lie by confirming the most likely suspicions of my inquisitor---that way, they will continue to fold their better hands to my (semi-)bluffs and everyone is happy [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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At a 4-8 game, I would want them to think I was bluffing. I would show the hand. The way I play, I want players to think I am bluffing and that I don't have the goods.

[Yardbird]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
She then says "So did you have the flush?"

[/ QUOTE ]

"Yeah; but, it was small..." is all you had to say! Your way made the fish play better against you and only you. I always lie by confirming the most likely suspicions of my inquisitor---that way, they will continue to fold their better hands to my (semi-)bluffs and everyone is happy [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

At a 4-8 game, I would want them to think I was bluffing. I would show the hand. The way I play, I want players to think I am bluffing and that I don't have the goods.

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Wait a second... Which happens more often: You are dealt a good hand that locks up the pot on the flop with lots of 2nd best hand possibilities; or, you make a good semi-bluff raise that doesn't materialize by the river?

I think that the latter happens more often, and although the former may be more profitable on an individual basis, I'd rather have lots of little pots than a couple big ones---especially at low limit where a little more respect (strong table image) can build your stack and concurrently decrease your variance quite effectively. Of course, the same cannot be said about mid-to-high stakes! I'd still lie, though... especially if I had the hand they suspected in that situation---so that if you happen to have any minor tells they will stand a chance to contra-indicate when you have the nuts [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Sundevils21]

[ QUOTE ]
Wait a second... Which happens more often: You are dealt a good hand that locks up the pot on the flop with lots of 2nd best hand possibilities; or, you make a good semi-bluff raise that doesn't materialize by the river?

I think that the latter happens more often, and although the former may be more profitable on an individual basis, I'd rather have lots of little pots than a couple big ones---especially at low limit where a little more respect (strong table image) can build your stack and concurrently decrease your variance quite effectively. Of course, the same cannot be said about mid-to-high stakes! I'd still lie, though... especially if I had the hand they suspected in that situation---so that if you happen to have any minor tells they will stand a chance to contra-indicate when you have the nuts

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I think we just have very different styles of play. I don't really bluff that much. Some circumstances I would like to be thought of as tight, but not most. If I'm value betting the flopped nut flush draw with 5 other players, I want them calling, not giving me respect and folding. It works out better for me when I hit, but it works better for you when you don't because your river bet will get more respect and maybe push out the remaining players.
I'll trade increased varience for +EV every time.

I would rather have a loose image in low limit and a tight image in higher limit games. I want more varience in LL than I want in higher ones.

[Sundevils21]

However, I don't object to the "Give out the least amount of info as possible" theory. I just think against bad players, giving out bad info is usually a good thing.
Never show cards in any kind of a tournament though, I've kept that rule since day 1.

[StellarWind]

Typical LL opponents call much too much. Most of their bad plays are calls. Bad folds are relatively rarely an issue for them.

Encourage them to call more often against you and they make more mistakes than ever. Teach them to fold more against you and their play improves. Almost every hand a calling station could consider folding should be folded.

The best image in a loose-passive game is pleasantly LAG. You want them to chase you down and look you up. A strong table image is ineffective because you will never get this type of player to the point where he routinely folds too often.

That said, I never show my cards and don't worry much about controlling my image. The really important thing is to be aware of what image you have and play accordingly.

[blackaces13]

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Never show cards in any kind of a tournament though, I've kept that rule since day 1.



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Pros do it all the time. Seems Helmuth can't fold unless its face up. I definitely think there are times and opponents where showing a certain hand can do you some good. The "never show" mantra, while not a bad rule of thumb, seems a little rigid.

[Greg J]

When I'm playing in a B and M I always politely tell them "I don't remember what I had." And smile at them. It releives tension. This is not like "I don't remember John" on rounders! It's a totally differnt vibe! I'm politely letting them know that they have to pay to find out info on me.

I never get asked online for some reason.