Show your cards? Sorry, long one again.

[BPRescue]

Thanks to the response on my post yesterday. Yet another question in regard to showing cards.

On my 2nd 3-6 table of the day, I began my play very tight as to watch the table. It seemed there was one guy, 2 positions to my left, who was really pushing the table around regardless of position and anytime someone would try to see a flop, he would either bet and or raise/re-raise until most folded. I saw him go to completion a couple times on medium pairs when overcards were on the table and after betting hard.

Anyway, after folding many hands pre-flop, limping/folding on one BB and watching the table, I got big slick suited and decided that I should probably begin my play. Knowing how this guy pushed everyone I decided to just call his raise. 3 others called as normal just to see a flop. Calling is a little dangerous at this point, I know, but with an incredibly tight table, and one maniac, I thought the remaining table would be out soon unless they picked up a hand and would just see what the flop had to offer and likely raise at that point and or go from there. On another note, I love to trap with A-x suited cards, so… The flop comes, K 2 A with two suited cards, uh, wrong suit. Everyone checks to me, I check and sure enough Rambo fires away. Everyone else folds, I pause (a little Hollywood), and then finally call. Turn comes showing a middle card that I do not remember, other than it giving the board its 3rd suited card. I didn’t like that card, but was confident he did not have the flush. I check, Rambo launches and before his chips are in, I re-raise. Representing has paid off about half the time for me, so I was on the old semi bluff if you can call it that. Clearly in disgust, he pauses and does the WPT staredown thing, then finally mucking his cards and saying in quite the smart ass tone “I’ll give you credit for the flush”.

I just mucked my hand and said nothing as I never like to show. I like to let them think a bit. At the same time, after mucking, I began to question myself only because of his attitude. He clearly thought he was the man. The guy was clearly pissed because he had been manhandling the table, and either I embarrassed him, or he just had zero respect for my beginning play. After that, he went back to pushing the others around, but would play tighter when I was in the pot, and I noticed he would not bet into me as hard as the others. This entire time, I was quiet. After a while though I started to question myself on what I should have done. On one hand, I thought, yeah, let him think I had the flush so he thinks my tight ass will supply his coal if he calls me. The other side of me wanted him to know that I outplayed him.

Now, I know you guys will likely jump on me for slow playing, and then re-raising when
A flush draw came out on the turn. He could have had a hand, but so did I and he played a lot of hands pushing people around, so I felt I could slow play and get away with it. Once I saw the turn though, I decided it was time to close the hand out. A couple hands later, my wife was out of the tournament, and wanted to go play 2-4 so I joined in. But, that hand was the highlight of my day. I love nothing more than to stick it to someone who exudes arrogance and has no respect for those at the table.

On another note, with the Unabomber and all the craziness we are seeing lately, I have come up with a new one. My wife however made it quite clear she would never play with me if I did it. Here goes. Welders mask at the table. Fold it down only while in play. ;-) Sorry, on yet another tournament I saw a player with a bill hat. Every hand he would play, he would remove his glasses from the hat and put them on and pull the bill down. I just have to laugh sometimes.

[2Tone]

If I’m understanding you correctly, by not re-raising pre-flop you are allowing four players to see the flop for two small bets. I’d re-raise pre-flop every time. Don’t let low pocket pairs get in there cheap and turn into sets.

Post flop, I’m fine with the call, especially heads up, as you are setting him up for the larger re-raise on the turn, just as you did.

Meanwhile, after the win, tossing your cards into the muck is exactly the right play. If an opponent misreads you, there’s no need to correct him – you want to exploit that. You are not there to prove to anyone that you are a ‘better’ player than they are. You are there to make money from them.

[Talking Poker]

While you didn't have the flush, you had the top two pair, which I am confident was the best hand. I don't think you so much outplayed him and just outflopped him.

Regarding showing hands - I don't show my cards much, but I do at times, particularly if I want some hotshot to come after me (show him one big bluff and you'll get action for hours).

In this case, had you shown your cards, you would have been showing him that he made the correct decision by folding (even though you didn't have the flush). This is positive reinforcement, makes him feel good about his play, and makes him a stronger opponent. Now, had you had complete garbage here, literally a hand like 6 high with no flush draw and you showed him THAT, then he would realize he made a mistake and it might get to him a bit and cause him to start second guessing himself.

[JDMcNugent7]

Pretty much what TP said. You are kinda acting like you made him fold the best hand or something, you had top 2 pair, you don't even need to represent a flush for him to fold there. Showing in this situation he would still be pleased with his fold for sure, its not like he folded a set or something.
In both real life and internet i show my hands when it's just a huge bluff or they guess at what i have and are completely wrong, I never show my good hands. On the internet if you find the right idiots this can get you some ridiculous action and you can just completley dominate from there on.

[Zybomb]

Most has already been said but I'll add a few bullets

Its a little confusing if the three others called the maniacs raise after you did or before you did. If it was before, this being a limit game I don't think three betting would of shortened the field any when players were in for two bets already... also being limit it would limit (no pun intended) the effectiveness of a continuation bet the 2 out of 3 times in which you miss the flop. So in essense with a drawing hand (and thats what AKs is) I don't mind just smooth calling here, and treating the hand as simply a drawing hand that you can get away from if an unfavorable flop occurs..... of course it also means you may waste a big hand though.

If you were the first to act, I would of three bet here to limit the field , as the remaining players would have to cold call 2 bets in order to proceed...and then in essence increase the effectiveness of your continuation bet should you miss the flop.

2 pair is generally NOT a slowplaying hand (maybe HU) especially not with a flush draw present as well.... obviously when your two pair is AK its very different that if its 9 3 on a 9 6 3 flop., as your two pair cant be negated by pairing the board. In this case where you are sure to get action I dont mind a check in this spot. Once the other players fold and its down to HU, because of your read I think a call is the correct move. The only thing you dont wanna see (third of a suit) comes on the turn... so youve got to play it aggressively as you cant afford for a 4th card to come of the suit. I'd lead out here usually... but again since you are fairly sure about getting action, a check raise works great.

As everyone said, you had the best hand... why show him he made the right laydown (and show people how you play AKs preflop, two pair on the flop, and 2 pair once a flush comes on the turn) Your passiveness preflop, check call on the flop then check raise on the turn definately screamed out flush draw, then completed flush.... if this player respects when you bump up the pot, use this in correct situations to steal the pot from him (but dont overdue it, or he'll catch on quick and get mad you are trying to take over his job as the bully) Also if you do flop a flush draw, play it the same way if you think that he will think you are just trying to use the situations to steal, bc of the credit he gave you for the flush last time....he'll pay you off

[eddo31]

i will show a bluff to the table, but i wont show down legitimat ehands. i dont want other people to know how i might play a draw versus a made hand, so when i win a pot uncontested with a legitimate hand i wont show.

since i generally play tight the occasional bluff that i show will get me action later.

regarding the hand you have here. i would have been more aggressive early, as that flop is too draw heavy for you to be happy with, even with what is 99% the best hand right then and there. take advantage of your premium hands against an aggresive player who is running over the table and fire back at him. dont get invovled with marginal hands when he is still left to act, as you will end up throwing money away, but when you have a premium hand punish him with it.

[oketz7777]

i never show my cards unless its to piss some one off why let them get any read on you, play your game and be the one with the answers!