Bluffing On The River

It's showdown, at the river. You and your opponent.

Your opponent has one of three hands.

1) Something that'll definitely beat your hand
2) A medium hand -- perhaps the same as yours, perhaps differing only in rank
3) A losing hand.
4) ***

If they've got the nut, you're gonna lose. You raise, they'll either call or re-raise.

Garbage, usually we don't have to worry about. Whether you bet or check, you're going to win.

It's the medium hands where you can win money bluffing on the river.

Repeat: It's the medium hands where you....

Let's take the simplest case. You both have a pair. Except his outranks yours.

You're both weak.

NOW is the time to appear strong, especially if there's an A, K, or Q on the board.

Convince the other player you have either high pair, or even two pair or beyond.

What about trying to bluff stronger hands on the river.

Not so much. Two pair and beyond people tend to turn into calling stations.

If a flush shows up on the river, and you're convinced another player had a straight before that should you try and bluff them?

A LOT of players with anything better than 3 of a kind will call any bet. They turn into calling stations. You can't shake them no matter how much you bet.

What has this opponent done BEFORE when staring down a straight or flush that just appeared.



*** is for the player with garbage who has bluffed this far, and being a maniac, is bluffing even now. Fold. Get out of their way unless you have the nuts. Don't go on a crusade, let the other players at the table wipe this maniac out.