Show cards

[bjsaust]

Atm I have my options set to muck losing hands and dont show winning hands. Played for a bit with showing my hands sometimes, but wasnt sure it was worth it. Sure if I show some bluffs and show some valid hands I can keep them guessing, but then if I dont show ever they're in that boat too.

So what do you recommend, and why?

[q49z321]

i don't like to show. i feel like it's giving away free information. let them call you if they really want to see what you have.

[jameseyb]

What he ^ said. It's information and the downsides outweigh the benefits in misinformation in my opinion.

[dsmrolla06]

I keep mine on automuck as well, ive rarely ever shown my cards. Only show your cards if it will have an effect on your opponents, and not just giving them free information. IE showing down a crazy 3 barrel bluff so that your opponents think your a maniac, or showing a big hand in a tourney after raising 3 hands in an orbit to get some respect so you can keep stealing blinds.

[taipan168]

I also have my poker clients set to automuck. As you say, why give away free information? If somebody asks me to show what I had, I tell them in the chat box - and sometimes I tell them the truth, sometimes I don't

[kettleofish]

I'm similar to Taipan in that i automuck and then tell them what i had. No-one ever believes you anyway if you don't show your cards, so you can be completely honest and they'll still call you a theiving git. Maybe that's just to do with the levels i play at, but unless you show they automatically assume you were bluffing.

[jackvance]

On occassion I show a silly bluff..

[Ash256]

I only show if I want to feed them information which I'll act on later, and only if I'm playing one table. Showing bluffs on more than one table will mean that you'll get lost in the end and forget which table thinks you're a spewmonkey.

[Stagemn]

LIVE BY THE RULE:

Pay to see what I've got. Otherwise, tough luck.

[pokerroomace]

i agree. never show. don't away free info.

reasons for showing would be to portray a different image. eg. youre playing super tight. you then show a bluff - youll get called down for the rest of the evening.
or youre playing bluffing a lot. showing down a legit hand will make it seem like you always have a strong hand.

i think players like to show hands sometimes for live mtts because it is the result on the day that matters. if youre always playing with the same people probs no point in showing down when you dont have to

[mrhappy333]

I show very rarely, usually when Ive been stealing blinds. when I show my big hand after they fold it allows me to keep stealing their blinds later on.IMO.

[TLR]

I usually don't show, only cases is if someone makes a big laydown that I appreciate I may show

[Hal]

Interesting - I've been showing when getting others to fold a few times at the beginning of a session to show I'm not bluffing - and have people tending to fold to my bluffs later in the sessions.. (as I start very tight and loosen up - this seemed a good idea).. but now thinking about it - this can work against me getting big pots in the long run... prob explains why I only ever make *big* wins in the early stages of a session...

Might have to set my client to auto muck for a while.

And bjsaust - haven't noticed you on Stars - but as we're prob playing the same times/stakes - PM me your login name or something sometime - would prob be good to have your comments on my play when we've been together

[bjsaust]

I play as BjsAust on stars. Play a fair bit on and off during the day and then most nights. 5NL FR mainly, but some tourneys. Qualified for the Round 2 Team Australia on Mondaynight.

[bjsaust]

Was fun catching up tonight, good thing you folded that first hand when you did .

A lot of people at our level suffer from 'he's bluffing' syndrome. The first hand I had v's you was decent and the c-bet you folded to was largely bluff (I caught my card on the turn though). The very next hand I had was a monster, and I played it identically, and half the table assumed I was bluffing and I got paid.

I'm not much good at checking out others play, but I tried to pay attention to you. You obviously played tight, folded early rather than chasing lost hands, and got your consistant collects to get what you wanted. Didnt hit a monster while I was watching, so couldnt really see how you played one, but you won money with decent hands and thats what keeps things ticking over.

How about your thoughts on mine?

[Hal]

All I can say is I wish I had position on you lol

Yeah, that first hand - was so tempted to reraise and see what you'd do.. Only had JJ but I thought your initial reraise was more likely to be AK (knocking ppl out) than KK/AA.. had to choose not to - because my bankroll can't really make those calls atm.. (IE - I started with $20 - it went down - and haven't gone back past $20 again.. effects a lot of decisions I'd otherwise make...)

You played tight and well. I think we ended up in very few hands together - and so I didn't concentrate on how you played as well as I should have (my attention was wandering ) Seems like you came off well ahead from your good hands though - next time I'll try to watch a bit more

Grats on Stage 2 of the Aus WSOP entry. Hopefully join you there - if I can convince my wife to let me play when the Stage 1 satellites are on

[HiFi]

I automuck as well, and for pretty much the same reasons as others have stated. Information = money. I don't give others at the table free information in much the same way that I don't give them free money. I'd only show if I thought it would help me in some way.

[Crazy Scot]

I get enough of my bluffs shown down by callers that I don't worry about showing my cards otherwise

[MagyarSHU]

I also have my poker clients set to automuck. As you say, why give away free information? If somebody asks me to show what I had, I tell them in the chat box - and sometimes I tell them the truth, sometimes I don't

^ Same, but there are a few times it may help to show down a hand.

1) You're viewed as TAGG, and none of your bets are getting much action. A well timed shown bluff can rattle the bluffee and get the table more interested in calling your good hands.

2) Everyone at the table keeps playing into you. Showing the nuts if someone folds late in the hand to you could keep the jackals at bay.

Those are just a couple which come to mind, but I'm sure there are more. Though I generally agree that not showing is the best option.