Bluffing A Pair on the Flop

Like playing with dynamite? Try bluffing when the flop contains a pair.

40-60% of the time A player will have made trips.

Trying to bluff and win that other 40% of the time is a tough game to play.

A feel for the other players at the game is the key. Will all, 100% of them fold if you bet, and none of them have it?

Or is there some other joker (like yourself) at the table who will make a stab at stealing the pot. To bluff HIM or HER, you have to re-raise AS IF you are INCENSED that they would try and steal the pot with such a stupid bluff.

Is the person holding trips smart enough to slowplay them and clean you out? Gee!

And if a 3rd player stays in, quietly calling, invariably THEY'RE the one with trips.

Can you get an EV+ out of bluffing a pair on the board? Well isn't THAT the million dollar question.

You might be better off to 100% of the time fold anytime it's not YOU holding the trips.

One thing I find almost guaranteed is the person holding the trips won't let permit a checkaround. Even if its the minimum bet, they're trying to maximize THEIR EV. So if I can't get a checkaround pre-river, i'll usually fold, figuring someone's slowplaying the trips.

Or, as I discussed in an earlier blog, unless I hold a hand that can improve to beat trips.

Here's something else to consider. YOu're going to burn up a fair number of brain cells trying to bluff this situation. You'll win a few, and definitely lose a few. If your EV (expected value) is zero from the combined wins and losses, wouldn't you be btter off to save those brain cells for better-yielding bluffing opportunities? Just a thought.