Poker Tips: Calling to Bluff

Advanced Level, Bluffing
January 26 2009

One advanced playing tactic employed by experienced players is calling a bet with the intention of buffing on one of the later streets. This type of play requires that you’re up against an opponent who can be pushed off a hand in the face of a big raise. The idea is to call a bet that has possible draws in it, regardless of your hole cards, and then making a big raise if one of those draw cards hits the board.

Your opponent will need to be good enough to recognize that the draw could have come off. This play could backfire against someone who doesn’t know any better, so make sure you know the player that you’re bluffing.

The play also works well when a player raises pre-flop and a flop of small cards comes off. If they were on big cards, and the turn or river does not bring any, a raise will often take down the pot. If they have a big pair the move can backfire on you, but it’s a high-risk move to begin with.

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