32Red Poker Blog

The tricks of the trade: bluffing with a call

You have weak cards, but you sense that you may be able to steal the pot. Usually, a raise or re-raise is your best weapon. However, there are some situations in the game where a flat call can be very effective in setting up a steal of the pot.

The strength of the play relies on the fact that, in some situations, a flat call looks stronger than a raise.

This kind of play relies on be able to pick up the pot if your opponent checks or bets weakly on a later street, and so has more chance to be successful if you are in position. (more…)

The Art of Bluffing

If you were to learn poker just from TV shows, you would believe that the game is all about bluffing. This is not quite the case, but the skills of creating a good bluff and spotting a bad one are integral to the game.

What is a good Poker bluff?

When someone is telling a lie, the tale they tell must be consistent with the facts available. If parts of the tale do not fit with what you can see, you become suspicious.

And so in poker, a good bluff is one that tells a believable story. The “lie” you are telling is that your hand has connected with the board in a big way. The tale you tell must mirror that.

This means that when you bluff, your sequence of raises and re-raises should look like they would do if you held a good hand.  The bad bluffer plays his big hands in one way, and his bluffs in another.   (more…)