Monday, September 21, 2009

Collusion

As promised, here is the short version of my collusion post.

After waiting a good while, I finally got my dream seat. I was one to the left of a Crazian I've played with once before. He's only got one gear and I love it. In this particular hand he limped and I raised in MP with 8c-7c. The flop smacked me in the face: 8h-6c-5c. Top pair with OESFD.

He bets out. There are three players behind. What do you do? Answer before you read on.

***

I chose to raise, and here's why. It was a very loose table, and while I really like the drawing potential of my hand, this is a draw-heavy board and I probably have the best hand right now. No need letting a nekkid Ace of clubs hang around.

As soon as I raise, a quiet TAG Asian player (who knew there was such a thing) in the 8 seat says to the dealer, "I want to see all hands." The only reason he says this is because he suspects I'm colluding with the Crazian.

The turn improves my hand - it's another 8. Crazian now checks. I bet out. Everyone folds and I drag the pot.

Here's the question for the blogosphere: Do you show TAG (and the rest of the table) your cards in order to dispel the accusation of collusion, or do you keep them guessing?

12 comments:

Shrike said...

I would normally never, ever, show ... but here I might flash the 7c and keep them guessing.

The fact that you've only played with the Crazian once before is highly relevant. The TAG has paltry justification to suspect collusion: and, racial profiling be damned, collusion is more likely between players of the same ethnic background. I know that sounds terrible, but there it is.

-PL

KenP said...

Because the a-hole did this mid hand, he deserves nothing but your disdain.

I'd make it possible to look though.

You: Still want to see the hand?
...
You: Well, tip the dealer a red bird and I'll show.

Now you have reversed whatever psych play he's making. And, he has to pay in standing either way.

Of course this comment is provided at the speed of Net-molasses. Coming up with it en passant might or might not occur.

BWoP said...

Don't show unless you are forced to do so.

BadBlood said...

Don't show diddly.

If they're so far off in their assessment of your play that they think you're colluding, then you have the table right where you want them.

BLAARGH! said...

Obviously you toss the crazian his half of the pot...

BamBam said...

I love KP's answer, but he's right about coming up with that spur of the moment like. Definitely what the better of us two BB's said though! There's no chance I show in that spot, unless the floor is grabbing my cards from my hand. And in this situation if that ended up happening, I'd get so jammed up(TM) I couldn't see straight.

Hammer Player a.k.a Hoyazo said...

Blaargh stole my thunder, Doc. You "tip" the Crazian a red chip very openly for the table to see and then you pretend the ahole across the way isn't even there.

SirFWALGMan said...

Blaaaarggg funny. Me like. Dude screw that guy. I would never show him crap and tell him if he did not like it he could go someplace else. You don't want stupid TAGs at your table anyways.

Seattlejohn said...

I like all the answers to the don't show the hand questoins. As for the raise on the flop, I dislike very much.

You said you have players behind you. How many? You have a very stong hand with the draw. Flush draws may raise behind you allowing you to trap more money in the pot. You were the lead riaser, this flop was not supposed to hit your hand so a flat would make sense. You then either get to backdraft riase or raise the turn when the bets are bigger. If there is a bigger flush out there so be it, you will lose anyway no matter how many bets you put in on the flop if it hits. Limit poker is a stupid, frustrating game, but I love it. Miss you in Seattle.

Shawn said...

I wouldn't show. Screw'em. The guy should know better than to make a request like that. "I want to see all hands." Ha. Right, yes sir right away sir.

Unknown said...

"If you can beat me in arm wrestling I'll turn over my hand"

Everyone laughs, he looks like a dick (that he is for the angle-tilt shooting, and you win.

PB said...

I also like KP's answer...

but I would never show, unless forced to do so. If he's mad about it, he leaves, and the table is better for me.

I wouldn't show disdain, just ambivalence to show the guy I care very little about him.