The pursuit of a perfect poker strategy is something that every player can relate to. Poker players must be willing to use every advantage available to achieve optimal win rates and peak performance. Some tactics are more controversial than others, with one of the most notable being rabbit hunting.

What Is Rabbit Hunting in Poker?

Poker possesses a distinct blend of skill and chance, with proven popularity spawning multiple variations. One of the most popular formats is Texas Hold’em. If you play Texas Hold’em online, there’s a good chance you’ve come across rabbit hunting before.

When a player requests a rabbit hunt in poker, they want to see how a game would have played out had they not folded. In other words, the game ends before all community cards are revealed, but the player asks the dealer to complete the round regardless. 

For example, assume you’re facing a single opponent in an online poker game. You have a backdoor flush draw before the turn, but the other player raises aggressively with a significant bet. You decide to fold and not risk your chips. At this point, you can ask to see the rest of the draw, essentially calling for a rabbit hunt. 

While rabbit hunting might satisfy your curiosity and potentially provide insights into improvement, it doesn’t change the outcome of a game. In rare cases, it can be a source of entertainment, but it’s far more likely to become a source of frustration for opponents and spectators.

Rabbit hunting is a controversial tactic that many casinos won’t allow, mainly due to its negative impact on game flow. It can be a valuable tool under the right circumstances (like when you’re training), but it’s not worth the trouble when you’re playing skilled opponents in cash games. Rabbit hunting can work against you in most cases, revealing crucial information about your play style and state of mind.

Why Rabbit Hunting Is Bad

If you ask the dealer for a rabbit hunt, everyone at the table knows you were expecting to hit before folding. Moreover, they will watch your every move when the remaining community cards are revealed, judging your micro-expressions and body language to determine what you hope to land. 

How would you react if you missed a massive pot? What if your opponent is an expert bluffer who successfully tricked you? If the rabbit hunt doesn’t end with the result you were expecting, it can mess with your stress levels and shake your resolve, increasing the likelihood of tilt becoming a factor. 

Rabbit hunts also interrupt the game unnecessarily, making it a frustrating, time-wasting experience for other players. The hand is over, the next round is ready to go, and it’s poor poker etiquette to make your opponents sit and wait just to satisfy your curiosity. For this reason, most online poker providers won’t have rabbit hunting as an option.

If you’re looking for Texas Hold’em tips and strategies, rabbit hunting isn’t going to feature in the majority of guides. It has no benefits to offset the significant drawbacks in high-stakes games, and as tempting as it is to know the what-ifs, you’re left in a vulnerable position with nothing tangible to show for it. 

Dealing With Rabbit Hunters

The good news is that rabbit hunters are their own worst enemy. When you’re at a table with a rabbit hunter, use their desire for impactless information to your advantage. See if you can figure out which cards they held based on their reaction to the result of a hunt. 

In poker, you’re always playing with limited information. It’s best to keep your opponents guessing with tight plays and hidden hole cards. Rabbit hunters remove some of the guesswork for the rest of the table, making it easier for you to judge their play style, find weaknesses in their defenses, and adapt your strategy accordingly. 

Whether you play poker online or in person, the best approach is to stick to worthwhile strategies involving predictive odds analysis and probability theory. Use your knowledge of player psychology to understand the mindset of a rabbit hunter and use their curiosity against them. 

To succeed with a respectable win rate, you must have proper bankroll management and exercise responsible gambling habits. Poker is a game of possibilities, variables, and unknowns. Acceptance of these factors is crucial for optimal gameplay. A good player understands that there will be times when you second-guess yourself, but there’s no point in dwelling on your mistakes and missed opportunities.

Play Thrilling Online Poker at BetMGM

Poker brings together players of all skill levels in a competitive arena of fate and fortune, where experience, cunning, and a sound strategy count as potent advantages. If you’re ready for high-stakes thrills and gameplay that will have you on the edge of your seat, register with BetMGM for convenient access to the most popular online poker games, from casual cash games to high-stakes tournaments.