Did this question cost me action? Home game.
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 74
Started playing at a new home game with deep chip wells, so sometimes its hard to figure out what people across the table are playing with. A laggy player was in a hand with me and I had an ok hand but couldn't see what he had behind. I didn't want to trip the magic short stack spew with this hand, so I asked if he had cash in the well or just the few chips i could see. I find out yeah he has cash back there bet and instant fold.
I'm used to being able to see the relative stacks so I've never asked without a player already all in before. Is inquiry like that usually a big strength tell? I just wanted to size my bet appropriately :P
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 26,593
It can be a strength tell, but it can also be a "looking for implied odds to draw" tell, so it's probably near a wash. Less likely that you lost value with the question than that you would have lost value by no knowing stack sizes.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 12,292
asking what someone has isn't really that much of a tell.
however, I make it a point to "ask" before a hand starts. What normally happens is people use your question to justify whatever action they were going to do anyways, so it is really a wash.
I mean, its not like he had QQ and folded because you asked that question.
So don't put too much stock in it
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Don't rely on it at all. I ask that with draws for IO obv, I also ask when I got the Nuts, but I also like to ask if I'm barreling with air since it scares some people and increases the likelihood that they fold...
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,017
Just ask periodically during game play when you aren't in a hand. Then it can't be a tell.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
+1 for balancing your asking about remaining stack size range
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,017
