Checking down during all in?

[deacon_bluez]

What is the proper etiquette for when there are three players in the pot on the flop and one is all in? In the bar league I play in, a lot of them automatically check to the showdown. If I am seeing the flop, I want to play as if the all in player is not there, and if I catch a nice hand I want to bet it. Especially if I am playing a drawing hand and the flop hits me nice. Wrong?

I want to play right, so if it's common courtesy to check down, I guess I could. But if it's not universal, I would play out the hand. And in that case, maybe some justification I could give would be helpful for me.

I did this one time a while back. One of the regulars was all in. I flopped a set (888) and everyone gave me the look. The third player folded to my flop bet, and the all in guy smugly turned up his two pair. When I turned up my set, he just shook his head and walked away. I mean, what did I do?

[biondino]

The point of checking down is to give yourselves the best chance of knocking out the all-in guy which is advantageous to you both.

However, if you make a very good hand, then you are able to bet - this bet will almost always mean "I know we should be checking down but I've just hit a set and I feel obliged to value bet it" and most other players, if they still have ace high or whatever, will just fold and hope the all-in dude didn't hit a monster.

[biondino]

I dunno what your guy's problem was - you'd have still had a set whether you'd bet or not. Indeed he should be pleased you pushed out the other guy.

[karax268]

When I think I've the best hand, I'll bet, when I'm not sure I check it down. Simple as that, nothing unethical about in my opinion.

[elipsesjeff]

I'll bet bottom or middle pair or even ace high if i think it gives me a greater chance to win hand. I don't want the other guy to catch so I bet to protect my hand.

I don't care too much about the guy who's allin, just don't bluff a dry side pot.

[cobere]

There are certain situations, like on a satellite bubble, where it is in your best interest to check down to increase the chances of busting out the shortie, ensuring your seat. You could also make a case for checking down at a final table when there is a big pay jump coming.

In general, however, I think that checking down is wildly overrated. If there are 600 players left in a 1000 player MTT, for example, I play to win the chips. It doesn't make any difference to my tournament equity if this one guy busts out or not -- the chips are much more important at that stage.

[jackvance]

I remember this live tourney I played in (actually, the only live MTT I ever played) where one guy was allin on the flop, and this other guy who had flopped top two kept checked it down. I ended up with a runner runner straight and took him to value town on the river.

I saw his averse reaction when I bet the river, and afterwards my friends told me they heard him vent on about my poor poker etiquette.

At the time I didn't even know there was such an unspoken rule as checking it down, lol. Must be some live players thing.. I'd just ignore it and keep betting.

[Rondavu]

I generally don't bet a weak to nothing hand in this situation. That's not to be courteous, it's only to benefit me, since it gives me the best chance of winning maximum $$ in the tournament.

Beyond that people can honestly take their courtesy check down bullshit and shove it up their ass. If I wanted to be Mr. nice nice to my own detriment, I would ask a murderous inner city gang member if he wants to play a friendly game of hopscotch.

[Zee Devee]

Definately bet if there is a side pot already. If the side pot si dry I would try to build one only with a good hand, but if there is a decent amount there I would bet and try to take that down.

[dev]

There are a lot of poker etiquette rules, and almost all of them have to do with keeping the game clean and not pissing off the fish. Checking down a hand in a tourney with a player AI is not ettiquette, it's done for self-interest.

Most of those guys know a lot of things that just aren't true.