They show the cards

[NickyD11580]

If your in the pot with one other person and you bet a hefty some and there debating on going in with you so they show the cards and you know you can beat it whats a good reaction?

[Ventrick]

The best reaction is no reaction at all.

[snoogins47]

My one friend, no matter what the situation, will open his eyes wide and gasp in astonishment while staring at the cards. Even when he's not in the hand.

That's a fun one.

"Well, after seeing that, your best bet would probably be to fold, call, or raise."

"Why all the debate here? I think everybody at the table knows what the right play is here...."

"I have that bad of a bluffing image that you'd consider calling me with that??"

"Wow, those look just like mine!"

Ventrick is probably right, but it can be fun to say random shit, and with some players, you can pretty easily sway them in one direction. Sadly, most players won't take this bait, so it's typically best to just either say something that is completely neutral, or nothing at all.

I know one kid who takes a really odd route in this scenario.

"Ahh, I see. Yeah, that IS a tough call. It's a good hand, very strong, but do I have stronger? That's the question you gotta ask yourself. Are you willing to put your whole stack in the middle, saying that those cards have these two little things right here beat? You might have to call with something that strong... but if you think you're the losing hand, you should fold, no question. With that board, there's not a whole ton of things that beat you, but they're definitely out there, and ..."

Just rambling, and rambling, and rambling.

It doesn't do much for his stack, but it does a whole helluva lot to entertain me and everybody else at the table ;P

Once, I was in a home-game tournament, and the hand had gotten to heads up with one player, who's not all that great. He did this 'flip his cards to read the reaction' thing, (note, I had moved him all-in on the river, which would've left me crippled if he called and I lost. I was pretty sure I had him beat though.)

What did I do? I looked at them, and didn't change my demeanor much, except I started scratching my face every ten or so seconds, while 'trying' to maintain the same shpiel I had going before I saw the cards.

He was dead to rights, called, and at the end, said "...Jake, you play a good nervous person."

I wouldn't bank on any of that though, and if there's any question in your mind the best way to react, just don't react at all.

[redd38]

Does this really happen that often? It's never happened at my home game, I guess cause I frown on showing you cards while still in a hand.

[Ventrick]

If you're the only 2 people left in the pot I guess it's alright to do so, stupid, but it doesn't hurt anyone. Now if you're in a multiway pot and someone shows their hand and it costs you the hand it's time to take them out back...

[redd38]

I still don't think it's a very good habit. You never see the guys on the WPT do it.

[Replic]

You don't see it on the WPT cause they can read eachother beyond that. Plus, it's considered a rookie technique to show cards to look for a reaction, or to start to put chips in and watch their reaction. It's kinda insulting to the pros.


As for a home game, I do it occasionally, hell, most of my home game players do it when they take time to call an all in. The best reaction is none at all, as you won't change the outcome that way.