Spotting an Online Bluffer -- reprint

http://pokernerd.blogspot.com/2006/12/five-ways-to-spot-poker-bluff-online.html

Discussion below:

Five Ways To Spot A Poker Bluff Online

Bluffing in poker is part of the game, but if you have taken advantage of the numerous poker bonus offers available online you will want to know how to spot it when it occurs. Here are five of the easiest to spot bluffing techniques used by online poker’s most consistent fibbers.

1. The person bluffing frequently uses the room’s “chat option” and believes it will work to his advantage. He may encourage you to go all-in even if he may not have anything in his hand. If you play a game with the table chatterbox, pay close attention to what they do rather than what they say. Are they busy raising pots while openly complaining about having no decent cards, only to show down with an AQ suited? In all likelihood they are using the chat feature to help them bluff.

No, I would never do this, Never, ever ever. Nope. Not me!

2. If a player pre-flop raises and the flop doesn’t reveal much, such as a 3-3-9 and they re-raise instantly, you may be against an opponent trying to bluff all the way to the river. Before you call, you should be confident you can take the pot with the cards you are holding.

[Yes, but what about the player holding a pocket pair of Jacks, Queens, or Kings. They live in terror of an ace hitting the table. They're going to instantly try and take the pot when garbage flops. The only defense is, "does this player raise pre-flop for lots of reasons or ONLY when they're holding pocket pairs." So I give #2 a thumbs down.

3. The player with the lowest chip stack goes all-in with absolutely nothing you can see as an immediate threat. It is likely they are bluffing and thinking “it’s now or never” to get themselves back into the game.

[I almost always bet against the player with a short stack who goes all in]

4. A player who bets confidently on the flop and then checks on the turn needs to justify himself with chips. If you have a good hand, be self assured and don’t give them any free bets, make them bet some more chips.

[Frequently when I don't have the nuts I'll stop, look, and listen at the turn to see just how strong the other players think they are. Not sure how this helps identify a bluffer]

5. You may be up against a really loose player who bets every hand. Just who are they trying to kid? Nobody has it that easy in poker!

[True, but never bet against the person on a winning streak. Yes, 1 out of 3 of their bets are bluffs, but WHICH ONES?] Believe me, I learned this lesson the expensive way.