d. Intentional flashing

The good player intentionally flashes cards in his hand to cause opponents to drop, call, bet, raise, or bluff. But he uses the intentional flash with caution. If suspected, intentional flashes are less effective and can cause resentment among players.

After the final card of a seven-card stud game, John Finn holds a partly hidden flush—three clubs showing and two clubs in the hole. He also has a pair of jacks showing and a pair of sevens in the hole. Ted Fehr has the other pair of sevens showing, and John reads him for two pair— queens over sevens. Sid Bennett has aces up and makes a $1 bet. Ted, betting strong from the start, raises $25. John just calls.

“I should raise,” Sid thinks out loud as he strokes his chin. “John is weak… probably has jacks up. But Ted might have three sevens… no other sevens are showing.”

John picks up his hole cards, shifts his position and crosses his legs. Accidentally-on-purpose he turns his hand so Sid can see two of his hole cards—the pair of sevens.

“I’ll raise to fifty dollars,” Sid says and chuckles. He knows that John has two pair and that Ted cannot have three sevens. Never thinking that John might also have a flush, Sid looks pleased with his sharpness in spotting John’s hole cards.

After Ted folds, John raises back. Sid calls and then slaps his hand against his massive forehead when John shows him a flush. He grumbles something about bad luck, never realizing the trap he was sucked into.