The Call Bluff - Juking Out Your Poker Opponents
Understanding what the call bluff is and isn't- The call bluff is a variant of the float that involves calling with absolute garbage in an attempt to take the pot from your opponent on the turn or river.
This is a counter play to continuation bettors and a way to punish tight probe bettors for making a single weak bet postflop.
The call bluff should be used with caution, however, and it shouldn't be used as an excuse to reckless flat players on the flop to automatically steal from them on any turn they check to you; you'll find yourself on the wrong end of a big check raise far too often.
Use it to simply accent your play with a variant on the float (When you actually do have a bit of a hand to draw to) and the check-raise bluff.
Players to call bluff- There are certain players you can and can't use the call bluff on.
Don't call bluff someone that's known to fire most turns; you'll never get the chance to bluff when he simply keeps firing regardless of what comes on the turn.
Also avoid call bluffing curious players on the flop; you'll end up having to fire a second barrel far too often when they check/call your turn steal.
Use this play against players that are loose enough to bet flops wildly, but give up to any resistance, or tight players that like to make small probing bets to see if they have the best hand on the flop, then furiously check and pray no one bets, so their unimproved 88/AK has a chance at being the best hand at showdown.
Choosing when to call bluff- You can't just call bluff any particular flop, either.
The size of your opponent's bet, your opponent's reactions to the flop, and the texture of the flop all factor into your ability to make a successful bluff.
First, I wouldn't be thrilled attempting a call bluff in any pot where my opponent fires more than half the pot on the flop.
You're risking too much, with the initial call and the steal bet (ranged between 1/3 and 1/2 the pot size on the turn) for it to be a profitable play.
The smaller bets, especially probe bets and continuation bets, will be easier to pick on than the full pot bets, anyways.
And trying to call bluff on a QJ10 board against the tight probe bettor may lead you into a world of hurt when he turns out to be betting 1010 scared, then check calling the turn and river unless they're absolutely scary.
Choose either nondescript boards or paired boards (23J, 44Q, etc.
) to use your call bluffs on.
This is a counter play to continuation bettors and a way to punish tight probe bettors for making a single weak bet postflop.
The call bluff should be used with caution, however, and it shouldn't be used as an excuse to reckless flat players on the flop to automatically steal from them on any turn they check to you; you'll find yourself on the wrong end of a big check raise far too often.
Use it to simply accent your play with a variant on the float (When you actually do have a bit of a hand to draw to) and the check-raise bluff.
Players to call bluff- There are certain players you can and can't use the call bluff on.
Don't call bluff someone that's known to fire most turns; you'll never get the chance to bluff when he simply keeps firing regardless of what comes on the turn.
Also avoid call bluffing curious players on the flop; you'll end up having to fire a second barrel far too often when they check/call your turn steal.
Use this play against players that are loose enough to bet flops wildly, but give up to any resistance, or tight players that like to make small probing bets to see if they have the best hand on the flop, then furiously check and pray no one bets, so their unimproved 88/AK has a chance at being the best hand at showdown.
Choosing when to call bluff- You can't just call bluff any particular flop, either.
The size of your opponent's bet, your opponent's reactions to the flop, and the texture of the flop all factor into your ability to make a successful bluff.
First, I wouldn't be thrilled attempting a call bluff in any pot where my opponent fires more than half the pot on the flop.
You're risking too much, with the initial call and the steal bet (ranged between 1/3 and 1/2 the pot size on the turn) for it to be a profitable play.
The smaller bets, especially probe bets and continuation bets, will be easier to pick on than the full pot bets, anyways.
And trying to call bluff on a QJ10 board against the tight probe bettor may lead you into a world of hurt when he turns out to be betting 1010 scared, then check calling the turn and river unless they're absolutely scary.
Choose either nondescript boards or paired boards (23J, 44Q, etc.
) to use your call bluffs on.
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