I realize that it makes sense to show your hole cards from time to time, and I assume the prevailing logic is that when you do so it is with the intention that the information will help "you" in the future, and not other players.

With that in mind, I was watching the final table in a $100 tourney on UB.
The player with the lowest stack (20K) went in for 10K pre-flop from an early position, and got 3K in blinds. The very next hand, he went 10K again (still in an early position), and once again, everyone folded and he (or she) caught 3K in blinds.

On the second hand he showed his cards-pocket rockets (AA). My question to the others here, is would you do the same?

If he doesnt show, he might leave the others thinking that because he was short-stacked and stealing blinds with a bet that was to big to shake him down on. This might cause the players to call his future 10K bet (especially pre-flop) with something less than they normally would.

However, by showing his hole cards he is saying, "my 10K bet is for real, so think twice." My thinking is that I would rather have the players thinking I was stealing or making a loose bet. I'm not sure what advantage the player gained by showing, other than to perhaps show he was "legitimate."

Did pride get in the way of logic for him?