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When
Are They Bluffing?
This isn't about reading
tells. This is about the situations where bluffing
is plausible, and when other players will do it.
You can generally look at the reasons YOU should
bluff and apply them to other players. Of course,
you also have to know the player, and evaluate it
from there, but here are some ideas...
A. They are keeping
the initiative despite a poor flop.
If they bet pre-flop from a poor position, and the
flop is something like 4, 5, 5, they are probably
just trying to keep momentum going and bluff their
way out of this hand. They probably have genuinely
zero drawing chances with overcards or maybe an
overpair, but a re-raise could have them rethink
that strategy. It might also give you a betting
round or two to try and make YOUR hand.
B. Pot Odds are in
their favor.
If everyone folds on the turn with a big pot, like
when an obvious draw was missed, expect a bluff.
It's almost certain that anyone will bluff against
a big pot. With the pot odds the way they are, you
probably want to stay in those hands also.
C. It's you and them.
The most common time to bluff is when you can pull
it off. It's very easy to trick just one person.
Use your skills at evaluating the previous rounds
and the board to determine what they might have.
D. The flop doesn't
have any draws.
Sometimes someone will bet in this case to eliminate
the ability to acquire a draw, sometimes because
they have a good hand. You really have to know the
player.
E. They bet on the
Flop, checked on the turn.
If there was a draw, and it didn't hit, they are
probably just buying a free card. Bet back against
them and take the initiative.
F. Bet on the flop,
bet on the turn, checked on the river.
Same as before, but they bought another turn. Might
as well bet back at them.
G. They bet and tell
you to "save your money".
If they really wanted you to save your money, they
wouldn't have bet. Sometimes players say that just
to create the opposite image, so look out. Few are
that crafty though, so tell Uncle Jessup that he's
bluffing and re-raise.
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