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Bluffing, Observing Opponents
December 30 2008

Making a bluff, in its purest description, is to make a bet when you think your opponent is weak. Most players will make a bet at a pot from a late position, and a more skilled player will look to take advantage of that fact. The check-raise bluff is a way to counteract the late position bluff, if indeed you think that’s what your opponent is doing. It’s a play that is best performed when you’re head-to-head in a hand, but you can still try it if another player or two are still in the hand, as long as they checked the action once.

Unless your opponent has a good hand they will usually let go of it. If they stick around to see the turn it’s usually a good play to come out betting, forcing them to decide what to do. The check-raise bluff is dependent on the playing style of the player making the last position bet. If he's a tighter type of player the bet may be legitimate. If he's a loose player that bets a lot the check-raise will be profitable more often.

It’s a good move against a loose player; just don’t use it too much. It won’t take your opponents long to see that you’re check-raising flop bets, and they’ll start to trap you when they hit a flop.

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Learn all about the art of bluffing in the Bodog Poker Guide.