So what's up with this: "I check dark."

[Aequitas58]

I'm at a local home game tonight. $1/2 NLHE.

Is it just me, or is the first player to act ALWAYS in love with "I'll check dark." I don't get it... why is everyone checking dark all of a sudden?

Anyone else notice this?

[Hawt]

They probably saw David Williams do it in the 2004 WSOP ME on TV.

[Aequitas58]

Yea, I understand THAT... lol... I mean logistically... (or even tactically) what is someone trying to accomplish w/ a check in the dark?

Can anyone answer that for me? Am I missing something?

[Zybomb]

I'll take a stab.

If you are calling a raise HU OOP chances are you are going to check 95% of the time NO MATTER WHAT THE FLOP BRINGS. Why? Because you know the PFRer is going to lead out and bet 95% of the time, then you can check raise, check call and slowplay, or check fold if you missed.

Since this is true, I think many players are checking dark, and not even looking at the flop (so that their opponent may not be able to pick up anything on them or their hand strength)... this in essence is reversing their positioning, making the PFRer first to act (of course he can check back and then the turn card is free and it starts again)

BTW David Williams dark check was one of the worst 'check dark' moves I have ever seen...if ever there was a time NOT to check dark that was it. Calling 1/3 of your stack with 55 and then checking dark? If he didnt hit a set he just wasted 1/3 of his chips... if your are going to call it should have been call, then move in on the flop if no ace came or something to that effect

[helmuths henchman]

When ever I go to the Boats near Chicagoland I will frequently check-dark. With a lot of those people they can't make out whether you hit the flop or not. Also I realized when I dark-check I either fold preturn cause he bet cause he hit, or because he can't read me he usually checks. As long as the turn isn't a harming looking card (my eyes 8 and under) I will throw a bet whether I hit something or not, and they will usually fold.

[Talking Poker]

I don't like checking in the dark. I think it's weak.

I suspect some people do it because they feel that they are outclassed and are afraid their opponents have a really good read on them or something. If that's the case though, they should probably just quit playing, because they are greatly outclassed.

I suppose if you completely randomly mixed your play up with this play, it could be effective in confusing your opponents, but if you only do it with certain kinds of hands (like small pairs that you plan to check/fold if you miss or check/raise if you hit), then I think it's REALLY stupid, because it in itself is a tell!

Then again, I think showing up to major tournaments an hour or two late is a terrible idea too, but there are certain "world class" players who do it all the time. So what do I know?

[yankeesfn08]

Not for me they think there tough by doing it but wen u get beat haha.

[Talking Poker]

Don't take this wrong... but your posts aren't really making much sense. What's with all these random one liners, anyway?