Should I show my cards?

[chrisbruce]

There are generally 2 situations where I will show my cards having taken down a pot uncontested.

1. Generally near the start of a tournament I may have called a raise with 2 rags, seen the flop and if my opponents show weekness or I am first to act I may bet into a pot with nothing. If I take the pot down in this case I may show my cards for 2 reasons.

To wind up the table
To increase my chances of getting paid when I do have a strong hand

2. I may also show my cards near the end of a tournament when I have made a raise with a strong hand and taken down a pot. this can be at any stage i.e. Pre flop, flop, turn, river.

Here I am trying to represent a tight player on the basis that I may be given more respect when raising and hopefully steal the blinds when they matter.

I am now of the opinion that my logic is flawed and I should probably never show my cards? so the question is when should you show your cards?

[Dewi_cool]

never , let the guess

[ifm]

Agree with Dewi, whenever you show your cards you are giving free information.

[thetank]

It all depends on the level of competition.

In a tough game, experienced players are going to know exactly what you're up to. You may think you're giving them the wrong information, if any at all, and that this can only be a good thing. It's not, I'll explain why.

The best players are watching you when you're involved in a pot, they're watching what you do when you make a bet, what you do when you're waiting for a call. If they see a tell, they won't know what it means unless you're called to a showdown. If you show your cards though.......



At a local comp, fine by all means go ahead. Bad habit though.

[thetank]

Even when playing online, where you don't have to worry about giving off tells, you give away too much information by showing your cards.

I'm a STT man. If someone shows a bluff in the early stage, it's usually to get action in the future. The first thing i'll do if I see it, is slap a note on the player saying "likes to run a bluff early on"
In the next tournament I meet them, this information is invaluable.

Besides, a tight image works well in STT. Showing your bluffs runs against this. Most chips are to be won without showdowns.

As for showing what you're raising with. If you show AQs after picking up the blinds, not even the most fishy players think that that'll be your minimum raising standard. The more common response is that of suspicion. If you pick up pkt 7's the next hand and raise again, having shown your cards the previous hand makes a player holding a hand like KQo more prone to calling you. When the blinds are big you'd rather pick them up without racing.

[Newmanseye]

I aggree with tank on this, I only ever show my card's at the local cardroom, But only when someone makes a good laydown just outta respect.

[chrisbruce]

Yes I can see things more clearly now.
I think this is just a bad habit I have got into and more a case of bravado at the table than good poker. I guess its one of those where Ive seen a lot of other players doing it just and copy it. Funnily the players I find hardest to read and gauge are the ones who never show thier cards.

Thanks for the help

[ifm]

This is Elblondie's opinion:-

http://www.blondepoker.com/ask/018001.html#8

[thetank]

Showing cards is one of my worst habits too, along with not putting the toilet seat down. 

I do it all the time, I think it's a self-indulgent thing on the most part.
If I think I'm making a good lay down or have run a successful bluff I'll want everybody to see, as if to say, look mummy, I can play poker. I have no doubt that this hurts my game.

I'm trying to stop and think the best way to go about it is to completely cease showing any cards outwith a showdown. Even in friendly low buy-in games.