07-27-04, LearnTexasHoldem:

No Limit Bluffing

Question: I've been playing poker for many years now at casinos and with friends and family and have always been a good player(based on money made, and what others tell me). I have a very good grasp of odds and general game play, but after reading your article on playing no-limit holdem, I realized I probably played too much with my head(odds,good starting cards,etc) and not enough with my instincts. I have made some adjustments and want to show you two situations I have recently been in.

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

-Playing No-Limit holdem(round the table,not tournament) $30 buy in $1-$1 blinds.

On the button I get KTh, 5 players limp in, no raises.

Flop comes 2h 7s 8h, and gets checked around to me.

I bet $5, and get called by players immediately to my left and right.

Next card is 7c. Both players check, then I check.(Successfully bought free river)

Last card is 8c. First player bets $15, second player calls (weak play).

I sensed hesitation from both so I push all in!!! $50.

Both players looked like they were going to be sick, and slowly folded in turn.

It is a friendly game, so they both revealed their cards, and each had a 7!! I had figured they would put me on the eight since I had bet after the flop, but I had really just missed my flush.

I was sold on my new playing style...until two days later

On the button again holding 89s, I call the blind.

Girl to my left(friends girlfriend) raises to $6.

Two guys call, then I call (I'm up and feeling saucey).

Flop comes Ah 6s 2d. Girls face sinks, whispers check, two others check.

I push all in!! $25. I just knew in my bones that no one had an ace.

Everyone is just waiting to toss them in, then as the girl looks like she is going to fold- she grabs her chips, and puts them in and says "what the hell" The other two fold and she says "I know you have an ace but I just can't fold

my queens!"????????

I was pretty embarassed to throw over my 89s, and I obviously lost the hand.

 

I correctly judged that no one had an ace, and I correctly sold the fact that I had one, but I still became the victim of bad play (really bad play). I'm having trouble regaining my bluffing confidence, because I realized I just can't predict how other people will play.

I was wondering what you thought of my plays, and what I may have done wrong.

Answer: The first play worked so I can't say much about it. It was a gutsy play and I'm surprised that at least one of them didn't call you. The second play I think was actually a better bluff then the first one but I'm not surprised that she called. Bluffs work better against more experienced players since they have a better understanding for the peril they might be in.

Since you have been playing for a while, you have a decent perspective of how often people bluff in poker. It's an essential part of the game, but not a large part. I would go easy on it. A little bluffing goes a long way and if you get picked off once like your friend's girl did then chances are people will give you very little credit from that point forward.

In NL against weak opponents like her that are going to pay you off even if they think they are beat, I would call way more hands preflop. If you had Ace rag in that spot, she would have called and lost. I would save your money for those opportunities.

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