Checking in the dark

[TightEnd]

I see this happen sometimes (even by blondeites on two occasions) usually by the player first to act post flop announcing "check" just as the flop is about to be dealt, occasionally later on down the streets


why do it? and what am I meant to think when I see it and I am about to act?

[ifm]

1. Your opponents have no idea whether you connected with the flop, so they don't know if they are behind or ahead. They become confused and the value of their position declines.

2. Meanwhile, you can spend your time studying their reactions to the flop and betting actions, since you are now last to act. You have essentially stolen the button for this betting round!

3. If you hit the flop (or have premium pockets), you can check-raise to protect your hand with a double bet.

4. If you hit the flop (or have premium pockets) but it's checked around, you can open the turn with a bet from EP to protect your hand with a double-sized bet.

5. If you totally miss the flop, you may get a free card because your opponents check in fear of your check-raise.

6. If you miss the flop but have a draw w correct pot odds (e.g. overcards), you can call one bet w/o looking weak. (It's clearly weak to check-call, but not so much if your check was in the dark.)

Occasionally you may give a free card on the flop with the best hand, only to get sucked out on the turn. But when this happens, it's often pretty obvious and you can quickly fold, especially since the pot is smaller than usual by this point.

[tikay]

Marcel KLuske uses this to perfection, but it's a dangerous tool in the wrong hands.

[NoflopsHomer]

It's very common in 7 Card Stud when your opponent is on a drawing hand and you've got something like trips or two pair, you check in the dark for the river card so that you'll only have to call one bet instead of two if they make their draw.

[Junior Senior]

I have seen this alot in the games so far here in vegas. - the american's love it! - i personally think it is a current poker 'fashion' and i have seen it used so badly so far. - The guys exercising the check in the dark option that i have come across in the last few days don't even know themselves why they are doing it - they have just seen it on the TV and want to give it a try - that is my opinion!

i think checking in the dark is a very valuable weapon but you simply must know why you are doing it and know how you are going to react to your opponent at each stage of the subsequent betting rounds.

a very dangerous tactic in the wrong hands!

[Bongo]

What would you do if your opponent responded to your check in the dark by also checking in the dark?

[Junior Senior]

As it happens Bongo... that actually happened yesterday in a STT i was playing.  Guy who called raise from samll blind announces 'check' prior to flop being dealt (he has done this 4 times in the same game now) immediately the raiser announces "check blind".

The pot ends up being checked down and they both show AQ.

I just don't understand the play of these guys (no same village either before anyone asks).  It still seems to me that these fellas have seen it on the Tv and want to give it a try without actualy thinking about why they are doing it.

[RED-DOG]

The only thing I ever check in the dark are the fuses

[tikay]

It's the "I seen a famous player do it on TV, so I'll try it" syndrome. Marcel Luske, in particular, attracts the copycats.

He started wearing his shades upside down, next thing, loads of other guys doing the same. Bizarre.

[redsimon]

It's the "I seen a famous player do it on TV, so I'll try it" syndrome. Marcel Luske, in particular, attracts the copycats.

He started wearing his shades upside down, next thing, loads of other guys doing the same. Bizarre.

I always thought the only person who looked cool doing that was Denis Taylor

[RED-DOG]

If you wear shades to play dont knock the upside down thing until you've tried it, you get an unrestricted, untinted, (except by your optimism) view of the board, but your eyes remain hidden from the other players

I never wear shades, my eyes are one of my best features, I overheard someone say "they are like petals in the snow"

my ears are great too!

[tikay]

But wearing them the right way up has the same efffect, surely? And don't say it stops the glare from above - they all wear baseball caps!

[RED-DOG]

No, if you wear them the right way up you look at the board through the lens, whereas if you wear them upside down you look at it under the lens, try it in the comfort of your own home

[tikay]

So what you are saying Red is the right way up is actually the wrong way up, and the wrong way up is the right way up?

Which proves my case. Or yours. I'm confused.

[Royal Flush]

So what you are saying Red is the right way up is actually the wrong way up, and the wrong way up is the right way up?

Which proves my case. Or yours. I'm confused.

Is it time for his nap yet?