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.