| by Al Sousa (site owner)
Most players you come across are fairly straight forward with their
play. They bet when they got it, call when its a marginal hand,
and fold when they don't. Some are passive and some aggressive.
But almost every time they represent their hands honestly by their
betting. Most don't try to pull off big bluffs. But what do you
do against the player who does bluff a lot?
Most bluffers are very aggressive and poor players. They usually
don't know when to quit their bluff and try attempt it too often
to be profitable. Eventually even the slowest of players catch on
and start calling them down. A good player bluffs only often enough
for it to be effective and believable.
The Semi-bluffer: A player who likes to bet and
raise with marginal hands that have a small chance of winning. Usually
an inside straight, bottom pair, two overcards and a backdoor draw.
The Pure Bluffer: This player basically ignores
his hand. He tries to represent the hand that's on the board by
his pre flop and post flop action. He usually tries to play the
bluff on tighter players that can fold a hand. It is common to see
these players bet/reraising with nothing to try and make an opponent
fold. I have seen some bluffers capping the betting rounds all the
way to the river on a pure bluff. Some even call the last raise
with no hand.
How to handle Constant Bluffers: If you find
a player constantly bluffing at your table be prepared to just call
him down with any reasonable hand. Sometimes it can be ace high.
Sometimes you will lose when they do have a better hand but most
of the time you will win because the frequency at which they bluff
at makes it unprofitable. A tell to watch out for when dealing with
bluffers is anyone who makes a quick decision on the flop then continues
to act quick on the turn. Even if a player has the nuts they will
take a second to think about their hand. A bluffer has the bluff
already set in their mind of how to play it. They don't think usually
how to play the rest of the hand so their reactions are automatic.
EXAMPLE: You raise before the flop first in in
middle position with A J
and an aggressive bluffing player calls you in the big blind. The
flop comes down KK J .
He checks you bet, he raises you. At this point your best plan is
just to call him down if he bets into you and bet if he checks to
you.
Calling down: This play loses you the least amount
of money if you are behind and it allows win the most money if he
is bluffing. If you raise anywhere in the pot and this player can
let go of a hand then you are only losing money. Calling basically
tells him your weak and that may make him continue bluffing. He
could have a QT or a small pair. Maybe even a hand like A8 in which
he is practically drawing dead. Just be sure that if he does check
you bet and not give him a free card.
When to Raise the Bluffer: If your hand is strong
enough then I recommend waiting to raise the bluffer on the river
if he continues bluffing. More times than not they will still call
with ace high or some marginal hand since the pot is large. If you
do have a strong hand, like a set, and you know this bluffer will
take his hand too far reraising you on a bluff then it is ok to
raise. Usually the flop is a good time to raise it on this opponent.
He will probably try to bet the turn anyway's continuing his bluff.
At this point calling him down and waiting to raise him on the river
again would be appropriate and maximize the amount of money won.
Give every chance for the bluffer to continue his bluff and pay
you off. Most opponents think that if you have a powerful hand you
will wait for the turn to make your raise.
When to Fold to a Bluffer: There will be times
where you just have to give up your hand to a constant bluffer.
This is when you look at the board and there are not many hands
you can beat. Give him the pot. It only encourages him to make the
same play later where you will win your money back.
EXAMPLE: You are first in on the cut-off and raise
with a QT.
The big blind, an aggressive bluffer, calls you. The flop comes
56K.
He checks, you bet, he raises. In this case you should give him
this pot. Why? You have nothing reasonable.
You have no pair, no draw, and any pair you need to hit can't be
a spade. Even if the bluffer is holding a marginal hand like 89,
in which you have him beat, you should fold. He can catch any 7,
8, or 9 to beat you. He also has a backdoor flush draw. You are
facing 11.5 outs to beat you, about a 43% chance he will win this
pot. This is not counting the possibility he has an Ace, king, 5,
6, straight, or a flush draw. If he does have an open ended straight
or flush draw he is actually ahead. A hand like J3
can catch any spade, 3, or J to beat you... thats 15 outs which
puts him at a 54% favorite. So let him have this hand. It is not
worth your money to continue.
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