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Bluffing is Fun And Lucrative - Sometimes!by Gus Hansen | Published: Feb 21, '08 |
 
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I'm back in my own backyard - Copenhagen, Denmark. The only Scandinavian stop on the poker circuit is at Casino Copenhagen where 460 eager competitors are trying to become the next EPT Champion.
Of course everybody likes to win, but it seems like there is an extra incentive, an added bonus you might call it, if you can perform well at home.
Unfortunately I didn't make it to the top. As a matter of fact I didn't even make it to the second day, which makes it 2 tournaments in a row where I under performed - at least according to my own standards.
An important difference however is that contrary to my mediocre performance in the Aussie Millions, I do believe my efforts here in Denmark were of a much higher calibre.
I never really picked up any big starting hands or hit any monster flops. So in order to stay alive, I had to keep the bluffing frequency high.
Let's take a look at two similar river bluffs:
River bluff no.1.
We are playing 150/300 with no ante. I am in the big blind holding
when an unknown Scandinavian guy one off the button makes it 1,000 to go.
Under normal circumstances I'll re-raise in this position, but this guy really hadn't played many hands, so I like my post-flop chances much better. I just call the 700 more.
The flop comes
which is what you would call a no-hitter.
I check and my opponent quickly bets 1,300. But to me he looks a little shaky, so I decide to see the turn card.
The turn is the
I check, and surprisingly he checks behind me, opening a window of opportunity.
The river is the
and it is time to take down the chips in the middle. I bet 7,000, putting my opponent all-in.
He sighs loudly, flips and turns his cards, but instead of dumping his chips in the middle, his cards hit the muck!
River bluff no.2.
We are playing 200/400 blinds with no ante at a 9-handed table. The third person to act opens for a standard bid of 1,250, and everybody folds to me in the small blind.
I'm holding
and decide to make the call.
I'm facing an unknown opponent, as the Icelandic guy I'm up against just got moved to my table a couple of minutes ago.
Big blind folds and the flop comes
I have flopped the nut flush draw.
Not quite sure how to proceed, I opt for the 'safe' check - keeping the pot small for now at least.
'Iceland' checks behind me, and the turn is an uneventful
His check behind me definitely showed some weakness, so I feel it's time to take charge. For all I care, I could have the best hand with my Ace-high. On the other hand I have to admit, that with a somewhat tight player opening in mid-early position, that assessment is not very likely.
Notice that if I don't have any experience playing 'live' against someone, I always put them in a much tighter category than where I would be found. Against most opponents in big buy-in tournaments, a decent-sized bet on the turn will be enough to take out hands like AQ and AJ and maybe even 88 as well.
I fire 1,750 into the 2,900 pot and 'Iceland' quickly calls. On top of calling he also gives me the dreaded "don't-even-try-to-bluff-me-on-the-river-as-I-will-call-just-as-quickly-again"-kind of look.
It looks like two scared Jacks to me, but with his attitude in mind I really want to catch a heart.
With the
on the river I have exactly what I started out with - Ace-High. Decision time!
Do I really want to lose another 5,000 on this busted hand?
Not really, but maybe 'Iceland' is on the exact same page. Just because he wanted to give me the impression that he was ready to call another barrel, doesn't necessarily mean that he is going to do it. Don't always judge a book by its cover.
From past experiences I know for a fact, that each and every tournament player, I have encountered out there, cherish their chips to such a degree that bluffing should be upgraded from an occasional occurrence to a major weapon at your disposal in every hand you play.
The whole world (me included) just hate to call big bets on the river.
Enough talk - considering all the pros and cons it definitely feels like betting is the right approach, and betting big I might add. I bet 5,450 and even though he gives it a long study, he ends up folding.
(I was later told that he'd thrown away Aces!)
Unfortunately my numerous successful bluffs weren't enough to keep me alive in the tournament, as later on two coin flips sealed my fate:
TT vs. AK and 99 vs. AQ both meeting an Ace on the board.
Next big encounter is the NBC Heads Up Championship.
Until then ...
Gus
Of course everybody likes to win, but it seems like there is an extra incentive, an added bonus you might call it, if you can perform well at home.
Unfortunately I didn't make it to the top. As a matter of fact I didn't even make it to the second day, which makes it 2 tournaments in a row where I under performed - at least according to my own standards.
An important difference however is that contrary to my mediocre performance in the Aussie Millions, I do believe my efforts here in Denmark were of a much higher calibre.
I never really picked up any big starting hands or hit any monster flops. So in order to stay alive, I had to keep the bluffing frequency high.
Let's take a look at two similar river bluffs:
River bluff no.1.
We are playing 150/300 with no ante. I am in the big blind holding
when an unknown Scandinavian guy one off the button makes it 1,000 to go.
Under normal circumstances I'll re-raise in this position, but this guy really hadn't played many hands, so I like my post-flop chances much better. I just call the 700 more.
The flop comes
which is what you would call a no-hitter.
I check and my opponent quickly bets 1,300. But to me he looks a little shaky, so I decide to see the turn card.
The turn is the
I check, and surprisingly he checks behind me, opening a window of opportunity.
The river is the
and it is time to take down the chips in the middle. I bet 7,000, putting my opponent all-in.
He sighs loudly, flips and turns his cards, but instead of dumping his chips in the middle, his cards hit the muck!
River bluff no.2.
We are playing 200/400 blinds with no ante at a 9-handed table. The third person to act opens for a standard bid of 1,250, and everybody folds to me in the small blind.
I'm holding
and decide to make the call.
I'm facing an unknown opponent, as the Icelandic guy I'm up against just got moved to my table a couple of minutes ago.
Big blind folds and the flop comes
I have flopped the nut flush draw.
Not quite sure how to proceed, I opt for the 'safe' check - keeping the pot small for now at least.
'Iceland' checks behind me, and the turn is an uneventful
His check behind me definitely showed some weakness, so I feel it's time to take charge. For all I care, I could have the best hand with my Ace-high. On the other hand I have to admit, that with a somewhat tight player opening in mid-early position, that assessment is not very likely.
Notice that if I don't have any experience playing 'live' against someone, I always put them in a much tighter category than where I would be found. Against most opponents in big buy-in tournaments, a decent-sized bet on the turn will be enough to take out hands like AQ and AJ and maybe even 88 as well.
I fire 1,750 into the 2,900 pot and 'Iceland' quickly calls. On top of calling he also gives me the dreaded "don't-even-try-to-bluff-me-on-the-river-as-I-will-call-just-as-quickly-again"-kind of look.
It looks like two scared Jacks to me, but with his attitude in mind I really want to catch a heart.
With the
on the river I have exactly what I started out with - Ace-High. Decision time!
Do I really want to lose another 5,000 on this busted hand?
Not really, but maybe 'Iceland' is on the exact same page. Just because he wanted to give me the impression that he was ready to call another barrel, doesn't necessarily mean that he is going to do it. Don't always judge a book by its cover.
From past experiences I know for a fact, that each and every tournament player, I have encountered out there, cherish their chips to such a degree that bluffing should be upgraded from an occasional occurrence to a major weapon at your disposal in every hand you play.
The whole world (me included) just hate to call big bets on the river.
Enough talk - considering all the pros and cons it definitely feels like betting is the right approach, and betting big I might add. I bet 5,450 and even though he gives it a long study, he ends up folding.
(I was later told that he'd thrown away Aces!)
Unfortunately my numerous successful bluffs weren't enough to keep me alive in the tournament, as later on two coin flips sealed my fate:
TT vs. AK and 99 vs. AQ both meeting an Ace on the board.
Next big encounter is the NBC Heads Up Championship.
Until then ...
Gus