How do you look at your cards?

Sky_Dave

I was watching back some old episodes of High Stakes Poker lately (I know, but I had to fill the time waiting for the next UK Cash Game with something, right?) and there was a really interesting conversation that came up between Doyle Brunson and Dario Minieri.

"Who taught you to do that?" - YouTube link

Apparently Dario, who was something of a live cash game novice at the time, looked at his hole cards in a really unusual fashion. I always used to wonder why Doyle looked at his the way he does - just peeling them up.

How do you look at your hole cards? Squeezer? Side by side? One at a time?

AcidMan27

With my eyes.


Sorry, somebody  had to.


I tend to squeeze mine I think.

I usually wait to look at mine when it's my turn to act too.

pod1

pick them up, look at them, put them down, simples!!

Dazler

i tend to keep them as flat as possible and curve my left hand around the back while i lift them one at a time. A bit like the way i use a digital card reader to hide my number at the supermarket really bugs me when i see people put it upto there chest though for somereason.

spornybol

THOUGH MY MR MAGOO GLASSES, NEVER TOUCH MY CARDS AS IT`S SHOWN ON SCREEN FOR ME<

WAIT TILL IT`S MY TURN ONE A TIME, THEN FOLD !

penguin7

Interesting question here. Many very good live players say not to look until its your turn to act, so you dont give anything away waiting your turn. Think someone on 865 recently said this.

Personally I prefer to look at mine earlier, thinking the other players will be watching the guys in early position making their minds up. I then always put the cards in exactly the same place until its my turn whether they are junk or monsters.

The hard part is to always show the same level of interest in the other players actions even when you know you are folding.

Thoughts?

Lambert180

I believe in not looking at your cards until the action is on you. Not only does it mean you can't give off any information as to your intentions but while you're not wasting time looking at your own cards, you have nothing else to do with your time but to be looking at everyone else and seeing their reaction when they first look at their cards

penguin7

The argument against that has to be : Why look at your hand when everyone is looking at you ? Surely you are more likely to give something away in the first few seconds after seeing your cards ? I am always very aware when I am UTG that the eyes are on me.

No opponent is going to let you know you if he has picked up a tell. Personally I pick up very few physical tells preflop. And postflop I get more info from what they say than what they do.

Anyone got any good "tell" tales ?

tikay1

Slowly.

TommyD

Why would you need to look at your cards? 


In reality, left hand cupped to the left of the two, right thumb and forefinger on the near left corner as I look at them.  Double flick up with thumb (takes less than a second).  Chip on cards, play poker.

If I'm UTG I look at them during the second card deal for the other players and normally make my action the instant the last card is dealt.  Other positions I either look at them on my action or a seat or two before if one of those players is dwelling (normally dwell open folding, sigh...).

I did used to have a tell where I would triple flick if they were both red or black to double check suits but have more or less taken that out of my game.

GREGHOGG

I use my large hands to cup both cards together. I then use my massive body/head to lean over so no-one could possibly see my cards apart from me.

I also make a habit of looking at my cards only when it's my time to act. When i'm in the blinds i just put a chip/ card protector on them.

hawk7112

In Response to Re: How do you look at your cards?:

Slowly.
Posted by tikay1

Dont you need to be awake to look at them?

debdobs_67

Some of the plays i have made lately i aint sure ive looked at em at all

DOHHHHHHH

In Response to Re: How do you look at your cards?:

I then use my massive body/head
Posted by GREGHOGG

Sky_Dave

In Response to Re: How do you look at your cards?:

I use my large hands to cup both cards together. I then use my massive body/head to lean over so no-one could possibly see my cards apart from me. I also make a habit of looking at my cards only when it's my time to act. When i'm in the blinds i just put a chip/ card protector on them.
Posted by GREGHOGG

I have to say Greg, you were incredibly aerodynamic when looking at your cards in Cardiff.

That was a sentence I never thought I'd write on the Sky Poker forums

unknown_username

One at a time. Immediately as they are dealt to me when on a full table.
Hardest thing is remembering what they where, cos I am a bit of a biff.

unknown_username

I'm more of a "Leaner & Ducker" if you can understand that.

I lean back in my chair whilst ducking my head forward and taking a peek.

Not sure exactly what time this ritual takes place, but, somewhere between the last cards getting dealt and the dealer tapping the table to tell me its my go.

Eyeman

I look at them as they are dealt (i.e. 1 at a time) so by the time the dealer has finished the deal. I already know my cards, and feel that way I give off fewer signals. I can then watch everyone examine their cards. The only problem is that I have only ever gotten a read off a player once from this (100% right btw), and have only ever been told once that I gave a read away (yelling FOLD FOLD was the clincher, perhaps).