11-23-04, LearnTexasHoldem:

Showing Uncalled Hands

Question: I never voluntarily show my pocket card after a hand (online) because I don't like my opponents knowing how I played a particular hand. I figure the less information the rest of the table has about me the better. Most people seem to play that way.

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However, I was thinking that in situations where I do not make any decisions about being in the hand such as if everyone folds to me in the big blind or heads up if the small blind folds, it might make sense to occasionaly show my uncalled hand. If my opponent(s) figured wrong, it might eat at them and induce them to call with a weak hand next time. It doesn't seem to reveal any useful information about my playing since I didn't make any decisions during the hand. Of course, one can't do this consistently because then your opponent would assume that they made the right decision when you don't show.

Answer: I don't buy in to the idea that you should never show your hand unless you have to. I've talked about this subject before on this site and I can think of many reasons to occasionally show the hand. As long as you know what you are doing, it is fine. The reason you gave above was a good example of how to do something to intentionally manipulate someone else's view of your play.

My advice would be to just do it sparingly because the more you do it, the less potent it becomes and the more it begins to work against you. I would also never show my pocket cards in hands where it would affirm another person's play; for example, if he was deliberating a call and then made the correct decision to fold. While showing people bluffs and annoying them can be the icing on the cake after already winning the pot, it can have some unforeseen consequences.

The biggest problem when you keep needling someone is that they start "gunning" for you and that can be as much of a bad thing as good. If they start playing really poorly just so they can beat you in a hand then you got what you wanted. If on the other hand they start raising you indiscriminately and putting moves on you, then it makes your day much harder. All though it is fun to piss off people, I prefer to keep everyone indifferent to me.

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