Post Oak Bluff
Bluffing is a very
interesting topic. Pulling off a bluff looks
pretty easy especially if you watch a lot of
poker on TV. Basically, you act as if you hold a
strong hand but in reality you have a poor hand.
Bluffing isn't as simple as it is portrayed on
TV.
This is especially
true of a post oak bluff. A post oak bluff is
when you have a strong hand but want your
opponent to think you have a weak hand. There is
a little bit of psychology involved in pulling
one off. Why would you want your opponents to
believe that you're holding a strong hand if you
really have a strong hand?
Put yourself in
your opponent's position: If you see that
somebody represents a strong hand with big bets
and raises would you actually believe that he
has a strong hand? Of course you would! If he
really has a strong hand and wants to get called
why does he want you to think he has a strong
hand with making big bets that usually won't get
called?
The principle of a
post oak bluff follows this logic. Post oak
bluffing involves making very small bets so that
your opponents call the bluff and remain in the
hand. Big bets may very well convince your
opponents to fold instead of putting more money
into the pot.
When to start a
post oak bluff
Obviously there
are some requirements for a successful post oak
bluff. As usual your opponent must not call too
much. If your opponent calls everything a bluff
makes no sense at all. You may as well put in
big bets with your strong hand if the other
players will call them anyway.
To make a post oak
bluff better than a standard bluff you need to
know if your opponents is thinking one level
above. Some players just see their cards and the
pot odds and make a decision. Others will think
one level above. Their thoughts might be: why is
he betting that much and delivering bad pot
odds? If your opponent thinks like that you
found the right victim.
Furthermore there
should only be one opponent. Of course the less
opponents to bluff the better. But with a post
oak bluff this is even more true.
A Post Oak
Bluff example
You're holding AQ
in early position in a No-Limit Hold'em game and
make a raise. One opponent calls in the big
blind. The flop is: KJ2 with two spades. Your
opponent checks, you bet and he makes the call.
Turn card is the 2 of hearts. You both check.
River is the 8 of spades and brings a possible
flush on the board. Your opponent checks, you
make a very small bet and he folds.
Three checks and
the third spade on the board made a good bluff
opportunity possible. A post oak bluff was a
very cheap try to steal the pot with only ace
high.
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