is this playing by the rules?

[StinkBox 0]

Can you show your cards to your opponent before you call or fold? I got into an argument with one of my poker buddies over this. The game is NLH STT ($10 buy in) and everyone is very friendly and chatty and sometimes drunk. Keeping things fun and interesting for everyone, sometimes when facing an all-in call with no one left to act, I would announce that I’m flipping over my cards without calling or folding. Although this does giveaway precious information to the table, it can also give me a reaction from my opponent. Is this nice and legal?

[Kendren 1]

It dpepends on the house rules. Official rules say your hand is nice and dead. If the house says it be okay, it be okay. but by the "rules", your hand is dead.

[mosesXcore 0]

If it's your own home game, you can do whatever you want.I don't see what the big deal about showing your hole cards is. When I play home games with my friends we do it all the time.

[bmwguy525 0]

Well in SuperSystem Doyle said he does that to get a read on his opponent's reactions, so it all depends on house rules. Different casinos allow different things.......

[StinkBox 0]

If i remember correctly, i think i saw DN do it in some tourny. He flashed his pocket kings on the flop in response to just a bet before folding.

[UglyJimStudly 0]

Well in SuperSystem Doyle said he does that to get a read on his opponent's reactions, so it all depends on house rules. Different casinos allow different things.......

Different tables, too. At high limits, generally whatever the players are OK with is what's allowed, and any dealer who tries to enforce house rules contrary to that is going to find themselves sent back to the blackjack tables pretty quickly, if they're lucky. Same casino at low or mid limits, the dealer/pit boss/etc. will enforce the house rules.The most stringent games, IME, are middle limits. High limits the players make their own rules, low limits there's lots of tourists and first-timers so enforcement is very forgiving. In the middle there's an assumption that players know what the rules are, so infractions are more likely to be intentional and more likely to be dealt with harshly.

[bmwguy525 0]

Yeah I notice that too. Guess I just never thought of it Good point

[Mr Monkey 0]

in tournaments u usually can get a penalty for exposing your hand but the hand is not dead. it all depends on the rules. since everyone was out of the hand i really dont think its that big of deal

[711Buddha 0]

You see pros do this before they fold. Because the hand is dead.

[Mr Monkey 0]

You see pros do this before they fold. Because the hand is dead.

not at the WSOP. http://www.harrahs.com/wsop/rules.html

[ChipLeader7 0]

I believe that durning the national headsup championship, the players where allowed to show any of their hole cards at any time during the tournament. At my local home game we usual do that if some one is all in the person who has the choice of calling, is allowed to flip his cards to try and get a read on the person.

[princeof56k 0]

I've heard of this move before, but I dont think its very valuable unless you really know what you're doing. Sure Doyle Brunson and Daniel can use it effectively, but their reading skills are alot better than yours or mine. Besides I dont think you likely to get a read on your opponent at all due to his "What the hell did he just do! Is that even legal" reaction. The read you're likely to get at a home game where people havent seen this before is one of pure shock rather than a read if he is beat or not. Personally I wouldnt use this move.

[Pupsta 0]

in most tourneys i believe, it's fine to do it as long as there aren't any more people to act...if it's heads up and you're facing an allin, it's perfectly fine

[711Buddha 0]

You see pros do this before they fold.  Because the hand is dead.

not at the WSOP.http://www.harrahs.com/wsop/rules.html

Thank you. I was thinking specifically of the card club where I play. According to them,http://www.canterburypark.com/cardclub/gen.../pokerrules.htm2. Poker Etiquette The following unethical or improper actions are grounds for warning or excluding a player from the card club: e. Revealing the content of an all-in hand before the betting is completed. Even there its a warning. Live and learn...