"Tell"ing your hand...

[MVPSPORTS]

[briachek]

I'm not sure about this but I have heard that you are not supposed to tell someone your hand or it is frowned upon. I've never really learned too much but saying things like that as I think I pick up more things subconsciously or by their hand actions and eye motions, not by what they say.

That being said, I have heard people say they've actually shown one of their cards when they are all in or an opponent is all in to get a reaction. Like if there is a flush draw out there, and you have one of the suit, like the ace, you could show the Ace or show the other card if you don't believe he has the flush and you have him beat anyway so you don't want the flush to scare you. I don't like this either and I'm not sure of the exact rule for that either. These things could be casino to casino as many of them have different variations on these rules.

Personally, I would concentrate more on the other things.

[MecosKing]

Doods-

I dunno what the issue is. When someone shoves all in (i havent played NL in a while, but its happened plenty) and i have a hand like a set on a flush board, i will go so far as to turn my hand over and showem and see what they do.

Sadly, with my reading skills i am probably equally well off reciting a quick prayer and putting my chips in. But as far as ive known, its never been against the rules anywhere ive played, which is most places in CA and NV.

[Aisthesis]

MV, glad you put this in a separate thread. In the situation you're talking about, I think it's excellent in principle.

But, first, it actually is against the rules (although, I think, typically not enforced) to say anything about your hand that isn't a lie.

It IS, however, legal to turn your cards face up when you're still in the hand. Brunson actually recommends it in the old AA vs. KK situation, as I recall: You have KK and are faced with calling or folding to a PF all-in. I haven't used this method yet, largely because I have the same problem as Mecos: I'm not sufficiently confident that I'll be able to determine their hand.

And, while it is supposed to be legal, I'd also suggest asking the floor about it in advance (i.e., before the game). You definitely DON'T want a floorperson not quite solid on this rule to end up mucking your hand with $1,000 in the pot!

I do think the read is probably better if you've made it to the turn or river where the all-in is pending.

[MVPSPORTS]

[Aisthesis]

[Alchemist]

I saw that WSOP programme as well and I remember the commentators saying that he would get a 20 minute time ban if caught. I've also experienced it online as well a number of times and emailed support with differing reactions (it is allowed - it's up to the player to reveal their hand if they want to, or no it's not allowed and dish out a chat ban)

[MVPSPORTS]

Ais... I'm gonna talk to the guy on the casino boat I go on, and will let you know...Keep me updated...

Alchemist... What exactly is a "20 minute time ban...?" I wanna see the guy who has the balls to walk up to Phil Ivey and tell him, he's gotta go sit in the corner cause he's in timeout...

[Alchemist]

Thats exactly what it is, sit out for 20 minutes and get blinded off as well...I also saw it on the Ultimate Poker Challenge show. Jim Meehan was shouting his mouth off, caused offence so the tourney director asked him to sit out and cool down which he was forced to do. Obviously this was different from what the thread is about but it goes to show it does happen.

[Rhound50]

You guys missed one thing, you are right that it is against the rules in a tourament to expose your hand on purpose or say anything true about your hand, but this only applies to tournaments. You can say almost anything you want if you are heads up and another player is all in. You can show your cards, tell him your hand, or whatever. Obviously it is not ok to show your hand or say what you have if there is a player to act behind you, but in cash games the rules are different than tourneys.

[MVPSPORTS]

So it's okay Rhound...? I'm not sure of the "rules"... that's why I was asking... Have you ever turned your cards over at a guy before you called/folded...? If so, did he react...? Why would it be okay for cash games and not for tourneys...? I really think a lot of the rules of poker are kinda outdated...

[briachek]

here, let me give you an example of what happened at the Taj yesterday at the table I was sitting at.

About 5 people limp in for $2 including a young guy who isn't bad and this old calling station woman.

Flop is

the kid bets $15 and the woman calls, everyone else folds

Turn

Kid bets $20 and she raises to $55 which you know is a made hand since she's a calling station. They talk back and forth until the lady just says "I have a made hand, don't call" and then flips over her cards . She isn't all in nor is the kid. Then the kid turns over his had and thinks about the call. I've never seen this and the dealer says nothing. The kid eventually folds I guess knowing he can't get anything out of her on the river if a club shows since she knows she would be beat. She would pay him off with here stack (about another $120) if he had called and hit.

No one said anything but this was the first time that I've seen it with money left to be bet. Maybe its against the rules but not enforced.

[MVPSPORTS]

IMO... that's a pretty stupid woman... She has what is now the nut hand, and her opponent had TP w/ a nut flush draw... At most of the games I play, she could've took all this guys money... Once she showed, he'd have to either be nuts or a REAL gambler to call...

[Rhound50]

First of all this woman is stupid, for showing her hand, plus this is a violation of the rules. Though in this case the person breaking the rules, is getting penialized by her stupid play which is why the dealer let it go.

The reason that they have more strick rules in tournamnents rather than cash games, is in tournaments it is more likely to have collusion, in a cash game with two players playing for money, the casino could care less if you both push all in or both check down, their rake is usally the same. In a tourament, one player, telling another player their hand can have a major impact on the overall tournament, and can affect the fates of players who arent in the hand.

MVP, yes I have flipped my cards over to see my opponants reaction, and it works vs some people. For the most part it is more effort than its worth.