When to Bluff

When to bluff.

Pretty simple. When you have a pretty good idea what your opponent's hand is, believe that yours is better, and are pretty sure THEY don't know what your hand is.

Classic situation: Setmining.

Someone who raises big pre-flop usually hold AA, KK, or something similar, maybe AK suited.

You've got a mere pair of pocket 4's.

The flop comes, 4-7-9. Off suit.

Instead of holding back to see what you do (depending on position) they push in a huge stack.

At which point you call them, or re-raise.

Re-raising they might fold, but calling, as long as another A, K or Q doesn't show up on the turn you've pretty much got then.

So now the question becomes, someone pushes a big stack out, are they bluffing you?

The one thing,the ONLY thing I can say with certainty is, they're not expecting to LOSE those chips.

They're either expecting me to fold, or they believe A, B, and C. A) They have a good idea what's in my hand, and B) They hold something stronger, and C) Don't think I realize it.

Got it?