his verbal implied second pair so he called his hand. show yours if you can beat it. if he is caught lying ever about his hand then always make him show in turn before you show.

All you douches saying "make him show" deserve the following scenario:

Fish: If you have top pair, you've got me.

You/douche: Show or muck.

Fish: Fine, whatever. See. I've got bottom pair.

Dealer: Fish tables two pair. Sir, you misread your hand. See, you have too pair.

You/douche: Crap. **Mucks top pair in shame**

Cliffs: Just show your hand, the other guy may have misread and have you beat -- but he may just muck once he sees you have his "hand that beats him" or better.

This post isn't getting enough love.

You know he doesn't have top pair beat, so he has second pair or some pair between 2nd and top. Loads of information there without needing to slow down the game.

If he had a busted straight/flush draw he'd say, "you got a pair, you win." See how the language changes with what he's holding.

At the end of the day, roll your cards, if he can beat you, he'll show. If he can't he'll muck. Combined with the little speech should tell you pretty much what he had in his hand.

I still don't get why people keep saying this. How is it that you get nothing out of watching someone play every street with a particular hand?

I've said before but since I tend to play private games with regulars, I'll often show first if I think I have them beat regardless of what they say before. I'll have plenty of other opportunties to see their hand; plus, if they were strong they'll often instaflip once I call.

Sometimes, if I'm confused about how the hand played out and want to see, I'll just say before I call something to the effect of, "Ok, I wanna see what you got, I call". That tells him ahead of time I ain't showing until he shows.

Otherwise it's "I call" and I'll pause half a beat, if he doesn't show I'll say "pair" or whatever and often they'll muck.

Best Answer: Say nothing and just show your hand. When people say that the information is useless they are exaggerating. The information is almost useless, in other words trivial. If he is a Reg, you should be able to figure out how he plays without seeing any particular hand.

If you put any value in "Keeping the Game Friendly", and lot's of people do, then it is clearly -EV to whine about showing hands. The trivial information gained could never be more valuable than "ruining the mode", could it? If I want to keep a game friendly, which I usually do, I show anyone who asks nicely, even when they fold.

Of course, it is not always necessary to keep a game friendly. A whole lot of the time the game is full of Regs who really don't care. We have seen it all, and will just watch TV while idiots argue about who shows first. And sometimes a player is just so annoying, or just needs to be tilted, that the second best answer might be used...

Second Best Answer: Say and do nothing. Make sure you know the rules of the card room cold before you do this, because who shows first varies by house. The dealer will probably ask everyone to show a couple of times, then ask one of you to show in particular. If they guess wrong (you), still say and do nothing. The dealer will call the floor or start arguing with you, in which case you call the floor. The floor should make the other player show first. Regardless, silently show your hand when the floorman rules. And an annoying and time wasting lesson is learned by everyone.

But, please don't pick the worst answer...

Worst Answer: Start whining yourself. It is not your job to explain the rules, and it is not the dealers. Make the floorman earn his paycheck.

I think 'nothing' is the word that's setting you off here.

You can learn 'some' things if you see a hand in isolation. However, the vast majority of players play the same hands they get the same way.

They always do X with second pair. They always do Y with a OESD. They always Z their flopped sets etc.

You didn't get to see this one hand. However, in one session you'll usually get to see enough hands by the player to tell you more than enough about their holdings. So not seeing 1 specific hand is no big deal.

Even more so if they give a speech such as in OP. If he says 'top pair is good'. What does he have? Do you think he's got a busted straight draw? No, he's got second pair or a pair between second and top. Does it matter if it's A7 or 8's or T's (if Top pair was J's). Again, in isolation, that information may be a tiny bit useful but if you are paying attention as the game goes on, it will become apparent. And knowing the pre-flop/flop etc action will help you there as well without seeing his cards.

Paying attention also yields you the following benefit. You hide in the weeds. You tell another player to show first and are demanding about it, there's a better chance he'll know you are paying specific attention. He's not the only one who just gave up some information. And I reckon the information you just gave up is way more valuable than you seeing it was 9's he had.

ask him if you are winning with "name your kicker" high?