Question about showing hands

Ok so I win a couple of pots, with out showing down at a table. I couple of them Im pretty sure i was behind in; some of them i know i had the best hand.

When is it proper ... er scratch that, im trying to make money

When is it (if it is at all) beneficial/advantageous to show my cards when the hand doesn't go to show down?

Show the big PP, bluff, sets, etc...?

Don't show hands. It encourages weak players to fold in difficult spots because there is a good chance they will get the closure they need for free.

fnord is on the money. I *maybe* show 2-3 hands a year and when i do its for a very specific reason.

to fnord: please change your avatar back to donny rumsfeld. its classic avatar month, ldo

I agree with the others don't show... You want to show only if you're confident you can keep your table image as far away from how you actually play. Definetly don't show a hand if you played how you usually play it.

Originally Posted by naturalassassin

You want to show only if you're confident you can keep your table image as far away from how you actually play.

Nahhh.... I'd rather muck.

I think a lot of people overestimate the power of creating a table image at low stakes.. + working to keep a table image you've created can be annoying when you're trying to play hands optimally.

usually when i see a villain show a bluff....i know its rare that he bluffs.

when i see a maniac show the goods, its because he plays trash most times.

dont show your cards....you are giving away info. nothing pisses off a table more than telling them in the chat, "you have to pay to see them." man, do they get steamed.

I show rarely but actualy showed a fish yesterday.
2/3nl on bodog
100bbs stacks.

i open UTG with AQclubs some tagg calls some fish calls from sb.
flop is rags two spades, fish checks i check tagg checks turn gives me a club draw and 2 overs, fish bets something into pot and i push, tagg folds.
fish tanks for ages, flp is like Txx8 then folds and i show.
About 5 hands later i do same when i flop top set and this time he calls with a weak mid pair 100bbs deep.

I think it still has its place, but it is a weapon to set people up with.

Originally Posted by Fnord

Originally Posted by naturalassassin

You want to show only if you're confident you can keep your table image as far away from how you actually play.

Nahhh.... I'd rather muck.

That's always the best option... but showing is fun for me and it encourages others to show... and fun is what I try to have when playing poker.

don't show your hand... unless you complete f'ed someone up and think it'll tilt em

I don't think it's a very good idea to give away free info

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

I think it still has its place, but it is a weapon to set people up with.

I usually show when Im sure i can set the guy up on the internet,but it happens extremely rarely, because the chances are- if you have that much info about the guy already, most of the time you dont need to show him anything in order to get his stack.

In low limits on a table full of fishes and calling stations I will sometimes sit and show good hands for like an hour straight if I get called a lot with junk. The point- to get those idiots to stop calling my prflp raises with 92o and try to bluff it later or something. But again, I do it rarely because:
1- if you're at the table with the fish- you "arrived" and don't have to show hands to win.
2- half of that fish at low/micro limits does not pay enough attention to keep an image of every one he is sitting with.

So yeah, it does have it's place but it it isn't nearly as usefull if compared to live play.

Personally I don' think there is ever a good time to show, it just depends if you want to send someone on tilt after you bluff a pot. But that can backfire next time you try to bluff and they move over the top....
It just really depends on mood at the table and what kind of image you want to set up for yourself...

I will show a bluff if and only if I am getting zero action on any hand AND I desire such action. In total I think I've shown maybe 3 all year.

I say don't show as well, I never show my cards now if you pay to see them by all means I will shows if it come down to having to show at the showdown. My husband doesn't understand why I choose not to show my cards I don't want to give away any information for free on purpose.

As far as when I am bluffing I really don't show at all. I don't want anyone know I am capable of bluffing with absolutely nothing like a 23 os. thanks

Michelle