The Bluff Call

[kompressaur]

I was watching Annie Dukes Poker vid in bed last night. She mentioned a new weapon for my arsenal in 'the bluff call'. all new to me but i like it.

To be successful in no-limit Texas hold'em, you need a variety of weapons in your arsenal. You need to be able to trap, bluff, semi-bluff, value bet and maybe even give off a reverse tell or two. A very sophisticated no-limit Texas hold'em play that can also be very effective is the bluff call. This move is an example of higher level thinking, meaning play based on what you think your opponent may think you have. Here's how it works.

How to Bluff Call
You call a pre-flop raiser with 8s 4s (how can you get away with such a loose call? Because you know how to execute plays like the following). The flop comes Kh 9c 9s. Your opponent makes a sizeable bet. You flat call. Why did you flat call? You have no hand and no draw! Let's see. The turn is the 3c. Your opponent makes a pot sized bet. Suddenly, you raise all-in. Your opponent goes into the tank, then grimly tosses in his AA face up. "Good laydown," you say with a smile as you rake in the pot.


How the Bluff Call Works
Could this really happen? Yes. It requires that your opponent be savvy enough to understand what is going on in the hand, rather than a player who simply plays his own cards obliviously. However if your opponent has even a modicum of observational skill, it can work. Here's how. Imagine if you held 8s 9d on that flop. Your pre-flop raiser bets. Would you re-raise? Probably not. You have a monster and your unsuspecting opponent is leading into you. Most players will choose to trap here, and let the raiser hang himself rather than alerting him to your hand strength and letting him wriggle away. Now the 3c comes and your opponent bets. What's the situation now? Suddenly there is a flush draw out there. In addition, your opponent may be close to pot committed. It's a perfect time to make your move and take it down. As long as your opponent can follow this reasoning process (and isn't sitting with KK or A9), your bluff call should win you the pot.
On the other hand, if you raise on the flop, your opponent may well reason that you would never raise with such a strong hand as trips and are making a move. He may decide that he will take his chances with his AA since there is not enough evidence to suggest he is beaten. In this instance a bluff call is more likely to be the winning play. Note that if you do flop trips, you may want to make the exact opposite of this move, betting out figuring your opponent will assume you would not raise with such a strong flop.


Bluff Call Notes
You should try to have a good read on your opponent before you try this move. If your opponent never believes anybody or only plays his own hand, you are much better off waiting for a strong hand and value betting into him in order to relieve him of his chips. Also it will help if you can make some observations about how this player behaves when the flop hits him, as this may give you a clue for when your move will work. You may also try a draw bluff call, where you flat call a two-suited board and then make a big bet when a third of a suit hits the board, even if you don't really have that suit.

The Bluff Call - Learn-Texas-Holdem.com

im away to give it a try Oi you can all fcuk off. err i aint away to give it a try i mean

[mrmuzeman]

Good luck

This sort of thing works a lot better in live play imo. Especially when you can see they look a bit gutted that youve called their flop bet cos obviously their AQ missed the flop or whatever. Trying this any more than a rare occurence in normal low limit online play is financial suicide. it has its place though, youre certainly 'playing the game' if you pull it off. You feel gay as fcuk if they checkraise you on the turn though Ive always known it as the 'delayed bluff', bluff call sounds a bit lame.

[kompressaur]

cheers Mr M. I must admit ive only had 2 chances today to pull it off and ive got a 100% record with it. I suppose it's just another handy tool but as you say to be used with caution. Mabe when im playing live this friday night i can use it to fuller effect.

I supose if they check raise you you would have to muck and grumble for full effect

[kompressaur]

actually mr m i was just using it on folks who i believed to be making continuation bets. I dont like the idea of the all in I was thinking thinking of a simple reraise on the turn especially if he wasnt firing a second bullet. Actually i dont know what i mean anymore

[kompressaur]

here's a pic i found posted for no reason at all

[mrmuzeman]

I supose if they check raise you you would have to muck and grumble for full effect

Exactly. Always best to give it a little 'hollywood' just so they dont suspect you were being a dick. Even online I let the timer run down for a little bit

actually mr m i was just using it on folks who i believed to be making continuation bets.

Thats exactly what its for really. Like when the flop comes low/medium and you think they have high cards. I dont think its worth bothering with at all if you actually thought they had something good.

I dont like the idea of the all in I was thinking thinking of a simple reraise on the turn especially if he wasnt firing a second bullet.

Yeah I wouldnt be playing it all in either, too much to risk on a bluff. Its best used when they check to you on turn, then you bet and they fold. If they bet into me on the turn id just give them credit for a good hand and give up the ghost, I need them to check to me really as that very often means they have missed and only have Ace high or whatever.

[Hippy Dave]

Rather than just flat calling I often like to put in a min-raise with nothing if there's a small c-bet. This way you're more likely to find out where you are - if they call and then check the turn it's very rare they have anything - and a 1/2 pot sized bet on the turn should take you the pot.

If you put in a min-raise and on this occasion they actually have a decent hand most players will re-raise you there, or call and bet the turn.

Just gives you a better idea of where you are in the hand - and if they do call check, the pot you take down will be slightly bigger too.

[Hippy Dave]

Just to follow up that post

If your opponent folds to your min raise, happy days (although it hardly ever happens).

If they call and then make a small bet on the turn there's 2 possiblities - if there's a draw on the board it's likely that they're drawing. If not, and they're a decent player they've probably got a monster.

[alexross]

standard play in cash games, however i do it a lot in mtts in position