Leading Poker Bluffs: The Top 10 You'll Encounter Regularly
Whether you're a loose player or a tight one, throwing in an occasional bluff is crucial to keep your opponents guessing. This is part and parcel of the game of poker.
Similarly, your opponents will, at times, throw a bluff your way. While there are those who bet only when they have something, the majority are capable of pulling a bluff every now and then.
Your job is to detect these bluffs before you lose your cookies. To do this, you need to learn how to spot them.
So if you're not sure whether a bet is genuine or not, these tips will guide you.
1. A Flop Continuation Bet
If you've been playing this game for any length of time, you know about the continuation bet. It's a move when a player raises before the flop and then chooses to bet on the flop, whether they connect with it or not.
While continuation bets are an excellent weapon in your arsenal, you can't just throw one every time without considering the circumstances. It may work against weak players who play fit or fold poker, but it won't work against more thoughtful opponents.
Your knowledge of their preflop range and how it correlates with the flop texture will be crucial in picking off a continuation bet bluff.
Keep an eye on those who throw these bets too often. It's a common poker bluff, and many players find it difficult to balance it correctly. Once you identify someone who's making continuation bets too regularly, you can counter them by calling their bets in position or throwing in an occasional check-raise to make them give up on the equity they have after shoveling more chips into the pot.
2. The Button Raise
Even the inexperienced players know that raising from the button is an attempt to steal the blinds, which makes this one of the most popular poker bluffs.
Technically, raising with any two cards is a form of bluffing. So if you notice someone opening their hands any two cards from the button, expand your 3-betting range with more hands. Calling medium strength holdings from the big blind against a wide range is a strategy that can give you many opportunities to win the pot.
Although the player on the button has an advantage in terms of position, if they play too aggressively, you can capitalize on that.
3. Bluffing to See Where They're At
While you won't see this bluff hand in more experienced players, newcomers to the game seem to love it. This type of bluff is usually marked by a relatively small bet size.
The goal of this bluff is to confuse the opponent, but it's not a very effective one. It doesn't force other players out, and it reopens the action for players who might have a strong hand and choose to play tricky.
This play is usually easy to detect as the player making it is typically upfront about it. The purpose of this move is to scare off the competition or see the turn.
4. The Instant-Bet Bluff
If you check to your opponent and they immediately put in a substantial bet, you might be facing an instant-bet bluff. This is a prevalent poker bluff, particularly among live players.
The idea behind it is to confuse the opponent and not give them time to think. While you have all the time you need because the speed of the bet doesn't dictate your action, this play can confuse inexperienced players into making hasty decisions.
So when you face this bet from your opponent, try to analyze the hand and determine if they can have a very strong hand. More often than not, they're just trying to look intimidating, and you can collect extra pots based on that.
5. The Donk-Bet Bluff
When you check to your opponent and they instantaneously fire a rather sizeable bet, you might be facing a donk-bet bluff. This is another common poker bluff, especially among live players.
In this scenario, the player is trying to confuse you by not giving you any time to think. There's no need to panic, though, because the size of their bet won't dictate your action.
This instant-bet bluff can be quite effective against new players who might feel pressured into making a quick decision. They might even decide to muck their cards without taking the time to consider the situation.
So when you encounter this bet from your opponent, try to break down the entire hand to determine if they can represent a strong hand. This move works well in scaring off inexperienced players.
Usually in poker, you'll want to observe and let the first raiser have their aggression. Betting towards them on the flop to show a strong hand and allow them to retreat cheaply is called a donk-bet.
While skillful players include the donk-bet in their overall strategies, it's not commonly seen because it's hard to balance and incorporate effectively.
On the other hand, inexperienced players or those who aren't knowledgeable about the game often resort to donk-betting. This move is usually a bluff, as they want to immediately win the pot instead of dealing with a continuation bet and subsequent actions.
With the first raiser having a positional advantage and a variety of possible cards, they can decide to play any way they want, whether it's calling or raising with hands that have decent equity. This lets the bluffer potentially lose more money on the turn.
When you notice an amateur donk-betting on the flop, don't automatically fold.
6. The Turn Stab
After a player checks on the flop, they open chances for another popular bluff, the turn stab.
A continuation bet is common on the flop, so when the intended bettor elects to check back, it creates opportunities for a bluff.
This bluff tends to be effective, especially against weaker players. Experienced players have a range of strong hands which they check occasionally, but inexperienced players often have no hand or the best hand.
The difficulty in flopping the nuts makes the turn stab bluff successful. Even if the in-position player calls the turn, you may be able to force a fold on the river if the board provides the right outcome.
If you don't possess this bluff in your arsenal, you should start looking for suitable scenarios to add it to your gameplay. Be prepared to call firmly against opponents.
7. The Min-Bet Bluff
Another bluff seen often by less experienced players is the min-bet bluff. This typically occurs on the river, when they make a small bet to try and win the pot.
Though the min-bet bluff seems odd-looking, it can be deceptive, particularly when you don't have a hand with showdown value.
The issue with this bluff is that you have to be certain it's a bluff; otherwise, you may end up in a bad spot upon being jammed.
Pros don't utilize this bluff often because a competent player will call with lots of hands because they're getting an attractive price.
Thus, if you find yourself in this situation and believe your opponent's story is dubious, you should consider calling or even raising. If you're holding nothing but air, the risk might be worth it.
8. The Squeeze Bluff
Owing to increased aggressiveness in present-day poker, the squeeze bluff has become a popular tactic.
Long gone are the days when most players sat around, waiting for the nuts. Now, they go after opportunities while disregarding the strength of their holdings.
When there's a raise and several callers before you, there's a significant amount of money in the pot and only one player (the original raiser) you should be concerned about.
Hence, you might want to raise and force everyone else to fold their hands that might be ahead or even stronger than yours.
Although a preflop play, it's tricky to categorize as a pure bluff since you're not betting with strong cards if you receive action.
This bluff's purpose is to test everyone and coerce them to surrender inferior hands.
Though challenging, this strategy has been successful in situations when opponents tend to over-fold, providing room for exploitation.
9. The Triple-Barrel Bluff
Though less prevalent than other bluffs discussed, the triple-barrel bluff can be effective and complex to manage.
When someone is really keen on winning a pot and fires on the flop, turn, and river, it's usually difficult to win without a strong hand.
Once you decide to call without a formidable hand, you're in a delicate situation.
This bluff is tough to handle, but it's a move you'll often come across - especially in games with inexperienced players.
In such instances, try not to fear the squeeze and don't give up too easily. Rarely will you find yourself in a situation full of seasoned players.
It's a beneficial aspect that many players don't possess the inclination to frequently engage in a triple-barrel bluff, as it would complicate the game significantly.
To dissect these bluffs, a systematic and composed approach is required.
Initial consideration should focus on their probable preflop range and proceed from there. By betting on all three streets, they're representing a highly powerful hand.
How likely are they to hold a strong hand based on the preflop action and the board configuration?
Any physical tells you may have noticed in the past or their established tendencies will also be helpful in navigating this scenario.
You must be certain they're even capable of executing this bluff before accepting their challenge.
10. The Overbet Bluff
Concluding this discourse on top poker bluffs is the one that's arguably the trickiest to counter.
The overbet bluff is predominantly utilized on the river when your opponent unleashes a significantly large wager — typically surpassing the pot size.
This bluff methodology is prevalent more than you may assume. Both reckless players and some highly proficient ones frequently deploy it to exert overwhelming pressure on their rivals.
Albeit they counterbalance it by distinguishing their range and occasionally wagering aggressively when equipped with the near-nuts, the formidable challenge lies in the awful potential returns on the call.
To tackle this challenge, you must be convinced that you're being bluffed and not confronting a prominent hand.
As a general guideline, you should refrain from calling too many of these wagers.
Maintain your hero calls for those occasions when you face a total maverick or a highly talented player who you perceive as capable of employing this maneuver with mediocre holdings.
Remember, this form of wager will rarely signal a medium hand. They'll either have the nuts or nothing at all, so hand strength isn't as vital as it may initially appear.
Bluffs Out and About
If you partake in poker, you'll encounter bluffs on a persistent basis, and I hope this article will aid in identifying and addressing the most prevalent scenarios.
There's a wealth of knowledge about bluffing in poker that warrants exploration, but we must initiate our learning journey somewhere.
However, be mindful that your opponents might also be acquainted with this information. If you're on the verge of launching an empty threat, consider the following situations.
If your play exudes "bluff," perhaps it's prudent to forfeit your chips and search for a more favorable contest.
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