"I Check In The Dark" - good or bad strategy??

[Bigfella]

OK all you pro's out there, here's one for you. I was playing the $300 tournie at Wynn on a recent trip to Vegas. There were about 14 of us left, blinds were 300 and 600. Guy to my right raises to 1800. I look down at a pair of queens. Now this yankee was playing a lot of pots, and I did'nt put him on a monster. I raise to 4000 everyone folds except this guy who calls.  "I Check In The Dark" he announces before the flop, which comes up A,K,J rainbow. A bad flop for my queens. His check enabled me to take a free card and bingo, a ten comes down to give me the srtaight. He then bets out, I raise big in case he had trips and didn't want him drawing a full house on me, and he folds. My point is that if he had not done that dark check move, it would have been hard for me to call a reasonable bet post flop. So is the check in the dark ever a good move? When would you do it? I noticed Hellmuth was doing a lot ofthis at wsop this year, so it must have some merit. Personally i dont think it will ever be part of my game, but any insight as to when people tend to do this would be nice to hear. And yes I know my large raise ws a bit cowardly, but I was happy to end the hand at that point!

Cheers all.

[Newmanseye]

If you are out of position with a monster, or you just want to get in to your opponents head its a great move.

The key part is knowing when and against who to use it on. Scotland stu uses this move particularly well.

[ariston]

Great move if used correctly and one I have been using for years against a certain type of player. If you watch certain players instead of the flop you can tell wether they have connected with the flop or not. The advanced version is the check raise in the dark- scares the bejesus out of people when you tell them you are going to check in the dark but probably check raise them...

[jimjamjay]

I saw Hellmuth using this at the WSOP too - I assumed it was so that he could force position on the other player ??  From the footage I saw the move was not that successful for him tho :-)

I like the sound of the check - raise tho - can you use that everywhere ?

[mikkyT]

If you are out of position with a monster, or you just want to get in to your opponents head its a great move.

The key part is knowing when and against who to use it on. Scotland stu uses this move particularly well.

Hes paid me off with it a couple of times

[The Baron]

At times this move can be brilliant.

However I'm not one of the "pros" (not B&M anyway) so take that as you will.

[Newmanseye]

If you are out of position with a monster, or you just want to get in to your opponents head its a great move.

The key part is knowing when and against who to use it on. Scotland stu uses this move particularly well.

Hes paid me off with it a couple of times

El-blondie had paid me off when he used it against me also, but when executed against the right player it can be devestating.

[NoflopsHomer]

Jo used this against ActionJack at the BB and then bluffed the river and forced him to fold. 

[fergus8]

honestly you two (billy and mikky) dont half talk a good game. 

[mikkyT]

I can talk the talk alright.

Just gotta continue to walk the walk where it matters. Like France. Get my mug on the telly.... hang on, then you will see my game. Damn. I dont want to be on the telly. I'll get called a fish.

Hmm... no change there then.

[Peter Costa]

OK all you pro's out there, here's one for you. I was playing the $300 tournie at Wynn on a recent trip to Vegas. There were about 14 of us left, blinds were 300 and 600. Guy to my right raises to 1800. I look down at a pair of queens. Now this yankee was playing a lot of pots, and I did'nt put him on a monster. I raise to 4000 everyone folds except this guy who calls.  "I Check In The Dark" he announces before the flop, which comes up A,K,J rainbow. A bad flop for my queens. His check enabled me to take a free card and bingo, a ten comes down to give me the srtaight. He then bets out, I raise big in case he had trips and didn't want him drawing a full house on me, and he folds. My point is that if he had not done that dark check move, it would have been hard for me to call a reasonable bet post flop. So is the check in the dark ever a good move? When would you do it? I noticed Hellmuth was doing a lot ofthis at wsop this year, so it must have some merit. Personally i dont think it will ever be part of my game, but any insight as to when people tend to do this would be nice to hear. And yes I know my large raise ws a bit cowardly, but I was happy to end the hand at that point!

Cheers all.

Checking in the dark, along with any other play in poker, can prove costly or rewarding. It really is down to the situation at the time.

I would class as the move as just one of many that can be used to play "funny" poker - or non-conventional poker. And just as in every case - when it works, your are a genius, when it fails, your a moron. Here’s one example....

Playing in the PPT event at the Bellagio last May - I was having a great time playing "funny" poker. From 10k -I had gone to 35k and the blinds were still at 100-200. Enter Harry Thomas (a WSOP bracelet holder and very experienced player). Before he had time to settle down - Harry would be walking away scratching his head at what he just did.

Harry raises to 600. On the BB with Q-Q, I decide that even though I have the best hand - I will try the “funny” play again. I therefore just called the 600 and bet 200 before the flop was dealt(almost a check in the dark). I actually liked the flop of J-T-8. Harry, slightly bemused - calls. I then bet 800 before the turn was dealt. The magic 9 hit to give me a straight. Harry, who held 9-9, announced all-in for a further 12,000. I obviously called and won the hand. Harry, who is a very solid player - had somehow lost it here. With not having faced such play before - he was confused as to what to do. Obviously, in hindsight - all he could really do here was to call the 800 and probably muck to any sizable bet on the river.

[AdamM]

nice story. gonna be good having you around Peter.

[matt674]

Harry raises to 600. On the BB with Q-Q, I decide that even though I have the best hand - I will try the “funny” play again. I therefore just called the 600 and bet 200 before the flop was dealt(almost a check in the dark). I actually liked the flop of J-T-8. Harry, slightly bemused - calls. I then bet 800 before the turn was dealt. The magic 9 hit to give me a straight. Harry, who held 9-9, announced all-in for a further 12,000. I obviously called and won the hand. Harry, who is a very solid player - had somehow lost it here. With not having faced such play before - he was confused as to what to do. Obviously, in hindsight - all he could really do here was to call the 800 and probably muck to any sizable bet on the river.

Or call the 800, take the card quite cheap - hit the full house on the river then reraise the "in the dark" bet on the end........

oh hang on, that kind of thing only happens on the internet

Welcome aboard Mr Costa

[Peter Costa]

Harry raises to 600. On the BB with Q-Q, I decide that even though I have the best hand - I will try the “funny” play again. I therefore just called the 600 and bet 200 before the flop was dealt(almost a check in the dark). I actually liked the flop of J-T-8. Harry, slightly bemused - calls. I then bet 800 before the turn was dealt. The magic 9 hit to give me a straight. Harry, who held 9-9, announced all-in for a further 12,000. I obviously called and won the hand. Harry, who is a very solid player - had somehow lost it here. With not having faced such play before - he was confused as to what to do. Obviously, in hindsight - all he could really do here was to call the 800 and probably muck to any sizable bet on the river.

Or call the 800, take the card quite cheap - hit the full house on the river then reraise the "in the dark" bet on the end........

oh hang on, that kind of thing only happens on the internet

Welcome aboard Mr Costa

Exactly my point Matt - if it paired the board - I would have been the moron who allowed Harry to get there!

BTW - the internet somehow does not allow slow play or much "funny" poker to be played - it have have paired for sure!   

[matt674]

Exactly my point Matt - if it paired the board - I would have been the moron who allowed Harry to get there!

BTW - the internet somehow does not allow slow play or much "funny" poker to be played - it have have paired for sure!   

Yup, which just about sums up the question being asked on this thread......

If it works - its good

If it doesnt - its bad

and thankfully its something i never encounter in the realms of cyberspace!!