I have searched the threads diligently on this issue and, although I have found some loosely analogous situations, I still would like the many bright minds that post in B&M regularly to give me their perspectives.

I am going to Atlantic City sometime in the next month or so to play in cash games and maybe a daily tournament. Because my budget isn't all that big and I'm not a great player, I'll be sticking to 1/2 NLHE and 2/4 or 3/6 LHE. I have played all these games before live in Atlantic City.

The point of this post is that time and time again, a huge pet peeve of mine rears its ugly head on a regular basis at these games, more at LHE than at NLHE. That pet peeve arises in the situation where villain bets the river and I call. Then, villain decides he is going to take his sweet-a$$ time showing me his hand or, worse yet, is going to wait for me to show first so he knows that his bluff or questionable hand is no good before mucking.

My approach in the past generally has been to show my hand and not put up too much of a fuss. However, I have become increasingly annoyed with this particular flavor of angle shooting so much that I now want to hear your advice on what might be the best way to stop it.

I have considered the following options:

(1) The first time it happens, tell the other player he must show or muck immediately upon being called. If he continues to delay that first time, call the floor.

(2) The first time it happens, show my hand without delay and tell him that the next time he delays when I call, I will call the floor. Second time, call the floor.

(3) Every time it happens, including the first time, ask the dealer to show villain's cards and tell villain why I am asking to see his cards.

Obviously I'm probably making a bigger deal out of this than it is, but I find it simply unacceptable because:

• it slows down the game,
• annoys the dealers,
• annoys the other players,
• and I end up looking like a bad guy for wanting the game to be played properly when the two of us are just sitting there at the showdown without showing.

All thoughts on which of the above approaches or other approaches you might use would be much appreciated.

When this comes up I often say "Wow, I made a real loose call there. What do you have?"

It makes it sound like you want to gamble and it normally gets them to show their hand.

Of course, if it was a complete bluff, they still may not show. In which case you know it was a bluff, you show your hand, and collect the pot.

First time, I turn my hand over and then say "I paid to see yours" and that generally works. If they muck even after I say that, next time I say "I called you - what you got?" and don't turn over until they do. This is indeed annoying but I haven't come up with any way to deal with it effectively. If others at the table appear peeved, I ask them "don't you want to see his hand too?" and they generally agree and unless they are idiots, realize that the slow showdown is the real culprit.

"I called you"

You are making a big deal out of nothing, especially at these limits.

However, I think if you want to get your point across in the least offensive way possible then just wait. The other player must show first (assuming he doesn't just fold). If after 5-10 seconds, which is an eternity, the dealer hasn't instructed your opponent to show his hand then I would ask the dealer why said player hasn't acted yet. If the dealer vaguely instructs "players" to turn up their hands then still wait, as it is still on your opponent to show first.

Keep in mind that most players at these levels are just trying to have some fun and are not the most experienced group. IF you come across as the table jerk you're going to scare away all the easy money.

Tell them:

I called, now show me what you got.

Ace high! (without flipping your cards over)

Nothing bothers me more than two people waiting until the other turns over their cards... How you handle it is up to you, but realize you are wasting everyone's time.

Kaka's suggestion was good - there is no need for you to threaten to call the floor over.

ps: you are spot on by the way - you do end up looking like the bad guy, so don't sweat the small stuff.

The dealer should control this, no need to call the floor. I usually just make the comment "I called you" and then look at the dealer to interject. I have seen the same thing and I usually just wait for him to turn his cards over, if it takes a few seconds, that doesn't bother me. If I call someone down they are either showing their cards or mucking them, period.

In an extreme case I would suggest speaking with the floor away from the table and ask if maybe they can get the player to speed up his play, or maybe explain that if he is leading the betting then he is the first one that needs to table his hand.

On a side note... If you let little things like this get to you while playing, you will become a miserable player if you continue to play. No sense letting something petty like this get you worked up and knock you off your game, just my .02....

What about just staring at them (1-2 minutes) until they flip over their hand? I like those 20 second silent stare down sessions--the longer the better. Esp. when there is a time charge.

This is what I use. However, if villain makes some kind of effort to tell me my hand is probably good by virtue of the fact I called (i.e. says "good call", "I missed", picks up his cards and gets in the "ready to fire them into the muck" position, etc.) then I'll turn my hand over. If villain communicates to you in some form that he was bluffing and you have the best hand, it's generally poor etiquette to make him show it anyway, imo.

However, if he just sits there with some dumb look on his face without making that kind of indication, I'll say "I called you" and wait for him to show.

As annoying as the delaying tactic can be, most of the time I just show my hand. I'm more interested in the pot and in moving the game along. (Moreover, I don't EVER want to be accused of slowrolling.) If for some reason I'm particularly annoyed at someone, I'll just say "I called you." This will usually prompt the dealer to ask the player to show his hand.

Just say, "Your sister likes to show me what she's got, so why don't you?"

This is a leak in your game. TABLE YOUR HAND.

Repeat after me: "I cannot control others; I can only control myself."

By allowing this to be a pet peeve, you are handing over control of your emotions to somebody else. Only you are capable of doing this. It cannot be taken by force (at least not at a poker table).

Also consider this... you play 2/4 and 3/6. That's cool, that's all I'm bankrolled for, too. But I've watched a hell of a lot of 15/30 and 30/60. Maybe my room is unique, but I can barely remember any of these showdown faceoffs. The cards aren't a deep dark secret, and someone who is calling feels s/he has positive expectation in the hand (otherwise why call?). S/he isn't ashamed of the play and so tables it, even if it's not the "proper" order.

If you really can't discern the villain's range of hands if it can't beat whatever you've tabled, then simply tell the dealer, "I want to see that hand."

It's all about keeping control of yourself and not attempting to control anybody else. You'll be happier for it, in poker and in life.

One more thing, just general showdown tip...

State your hand. Either your hole cards, or, better, how they relate to the board. "I have a straight." or whatever. Even if you're the caller. This speeds things up tremendously.

Once again, to those who are so hung up on the "proper" order... YOU are the person holding up the game. It takes two to tango. The other person may also be holding it up, but by playing that "no YOU show first" game, you're culpable. Table your hand, then it's ALL on the other person.

Absolutely wrong! Do NOT table your hand if you called their bet. You are making it easier psychologically for people to bluff you. I would just say "I call, what have you got?" to get them to show in a non-aggressive way.