10-26-04, LearnTexasHoldem:

Showing A Bluff

Question: Hi,

First, really wonderful site. My question:

What are your thoughts regarding exposing your cards when a bluff works? Would you want to do this if you plan on playing tighter later on or is this play a little too obvious (for typical low-limit games)?

Conversely, would you show a big hand if you planned on playing looser later on? Or is it better in general to make people pay to see?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

Answer: For sure! There are definitely times to show your cards after a bluff. Aside from strategy, my personal favorite is to show my cards to needle someone. There are a lot of decent people at cardrooms but there are also a lot of pricks. Nothing feels better than to bluff one of those guys off their hand and then show them it. LOL I don't mind making a few enemies at the poker table. I kind of like having people gunning for me, it makes them play out of their comfort zone.

On the strategy side of things, you are correct that showing a bluff now and then can be just the thing to get more action on later hands. For new players, there is a concept called "table image" which is basically how the other players view you and your play. By occasionally showing a bluff you can combat their perspective that you are only playing premium hands and only betting when you have it.

Remember, a hand's value isn't only measured by how many chips it wins in the current hand but also what affect it has on later hands.

Let me give you an example of this from just yesterday. I was playing $30/60 limit holdem. I had 5c6c in the big blind. A very tight player raised under-the-gun and one other player called. I also called. The flop came back Tc9c4. I checked and the preflop raiser bet, the other person folded. I called. The turn was another Ten. I checked and she bet, and now I raised (a text book semi-bluff). She called. The river was another 9 making the board TT994. I missed my flush but I bet again, she called me with pocket Kings and won.

Was I just giving away another big bet since I knew that she would call? No, because like I said, there was value in showing the hand. Everyone at the table saw what I did and not one person folded to me again after I raised the turn and I killed them. It only took that one time before everyone changed their play against me and they called way more than they should.

Like anything else, moderation is the key. You don't want to go over board with bluffing or showing bluffs but this needs to be a weapon in your arsenal. Deception is a big part of poker and knowing how to manipulate your table image is something you'll have to learn if you want to play your best game.

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