UCITD? OKIBITD.

[Captain R]

Bay101 20/40 6 or 7-handed.

I open-raise in HJ with A9o. Only BB calls. BB is very loose and slightly aggressive at times, slightly passive at times. Anyway, he has two cards and this is way good enough to call.

Before the flop he says "I check in the dark."

I say, "You check in the dark? OK, I bet in the dark."

Is there any reason not to bet in the dark? I can think of some pros:

1) My hand is probably best right now, and on average will be best on the flop.
2) It makes it hard to read what I have. I'm going to bet the flop pretty much 100% of the time, so I might as well do it preflop where he can't read the way I bet or my reaction.
3) It is slightly confusing and distracting to BB. This situation doesn't come up that often in the games I play, so it puts a little extra fear/uncertainty/doubt in his mind which can only help me.


BTW, the flop is J-9-7 rainbow, he thinks and c/r's me and I 3-bet. Not that it really matters.

[The DaveR]

Sometimes I check an Ace and pop the turn. Sometimes I look at the board and try to give a fake tell.

EDIT: Also, despite the fact that I pretty much bet 100% of the time after raising preflop, it gives me a decent advantage for other people to be unaware of that fact.

[MitchL]

I almost always bet in the dark when checked to. Alot of times they are looking for your reaction to the board so I take that away by betting before it comes out and not looking until the action is back on me. Obviously, when head up I am betting 100 percent of the time anyway. I also would like to hear if anyone can think of any negatives.

[Garland]

This situation comes up a number of times, and although I'm tempted to bet in the dark after a check in the dark heads up, I always actually make sure to glance at the flop before making the continuation bet. Betting in the dark just means you're betting because you have the lead, and the flop is inconsequential and they can make plays at you with thinner values. It becomes more of a guessing game for you.

By betting in the dark, you are also giving up a little of the position advantage you own. There are times I will check heads up in position against the right opponents with the right flops for balance and deception.

Garland

[The Dude]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, despite the fact that I pretty much bet 100% of the time after raising preflop, it gives me a decent advantage for other people to be unaware of that fact.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is the most important factor, I think. Of course you're going to bet, but there's no reason to tell everyone else at the table that you're always going to do it no matter what. Even if betting here in the dark doesn't mean that, everyone else at the table is going to take it as such.

[goofball]

I like it because it sends the message 'take your dark check and shove it, boy'

You're betting anyway and it throws off the dark checker who thinks he's all clever and makes him look at the board first.

[private joker]

I don't like doing anything in the dark. The only reason would be goofball's macho posturing defense of "shove your dark check up your ass," but I would just wait for the flop. You have positional advantage; use it.

[The Dude]

[ QUOTE ]
I like it because it sends the message 'take your dark check and shove it, boy'

[/ QUOTE ]
Huh? He's going to be expecting you to bet when he says that, so how is that making him 'shove it?'

[chesspain]

[ QUOTE ]


I open-raise in HJ with A9o. Only BB calls.

Before the flop he says "I check in the dark."

I say, "You check in the dark? OK, I bet in the dark."



[/ QUOTE ]

I assume that your flop dark bet isn't binding, since it's out of turn?

[Barry]

[ QUOTE ]
I assume that your flop dark bet isn't binding, since it's out of turn?

[/ QUOTE ]

In most places where I know a little, when the BB says I check in the dark, the action is on you so your "IBITD" would be ruled to be binding.