Tag: bluffing

The concept of blockers in poker has been around for a while but, until recently, it’s one that has been far more stressed in Omaha games. Lately, however, we’re seeing the concept applied more in Texas Hold’em as well. While the value of blockers may not be as high in Hold’em as … Blockers In Poker: How They Work...

The honest truth is that poker bluffs are simple with a small amount of math. But in saying that, I also realize that many players are scared of poker math. It can look overwhelming at first, but with some basic knowledge, it becomes very easy to do. And with a just little … Simple Poker Bluff Math Read More »...

Paired boards are an interesting board texture that all poker players need to understand. First, these textures are more common than you might think. Secondly, players tend to craft their strategies in very predictable ways on these boards. And third, knowing how to choose the best lines when the board pairs will …...

Have you ever wondered how you should play out of position in a 3bet pot? What about when you’ve missed one of the many draws that you could have in the hand? Today we will be analysing a bluff made over 3 streets in a 3bet pot. In the following hand I’ll be discussing my decision making preflop, on the flop, turn, and...

This article was written by blackrain79.com contributor Fran Ferlan. Bluffing is arguably the most exciting part of the game of poker, so much so that it has almost become synonymous with the game itself. To be a great poker player is to be able to pull off huge bluffs without breaking a sweat or raising a heartbeat. While there’s much more to being...

If you asked a non-poker player what they thought bluffing was, they would tell you that you take a bad hand and pretend it's a good one. They would also think that this is a huge part of the game and that you will be bluffing all of the time. While this information isn't overtly wrong, it's not quite accurate. You are taking...

If you asked a non-poker player what they thought bluffing was, they would tell you that you take a bad hand and pretend it's a good one. They would also think that this is a huge part of the game and that you will be bluffing all of the time. While this information isn't overtly wrong, it's not quite accurate. You are taking...

Conventional wisdom states that bluffing with a pocket pair is a bad thing. Pocket pairs have only 2 outs, if they're behind in a hand it's very difficult to improve. The hands that your opponent calls with also have bundles of equity against your small pocket pair. So even though you could be ahead in hand value, you can still be behind in...

Conventional wisdom states that bluffing with a pocket pair is a bad thing. Pocket pairs have only 2 outs, if they're behind in a hand it's very difficult to improve. The hands that your opponent calls with also have bundles of equity against your small pocket pair. So even though you could be ahead in hand value, you can still be behind in...

Pulling off a successful double barrel with an appropriate frequency is pretty important in today's online no-limit hold'em games. The days of profitably playing your entire range completely straight-forward and face-up after a continuation bet have been long gone for quite a while. However, because firing the second barrel often involves building a pot without a […] The post The...

This article was written by blackrain79.com contributor Fran Ferlan. Bluffing is definitely one of the most exciting aspects of poker. So much so that it almost became synonymous with the whole game itself. And it’s no wonder. Nothing can quite get your juices flowing like successfully pushing your opponent out of a huge pot while holding complete air. It’s fun, exciting, and it

Not all of us will have the good fortune to ever compete at a World Series of Poker event. Most of us will play in our home games, online, or at our local casinos. With that said, there is no reason why we should be prevented from enjoying all that the game of poker has to offer. Think about some of the reasons...

There are three main types of betting in poker: value betting, bluffing, and betting for protection. While bluffing is important and protection is a bi- product of understanding equity - knowing how to value bet in poker is an essential part of improving your winrate whether you play ABC poker or another style. In this guide, […] The post How To Value Bet In...

There are three main types of betting in poker: value betting, bluffing, and betting for protection. While bluffing is important and protection is a bi- product of understanding equity - knowing how to value bet in poker is an essential part of improving your winrate whether you play ABC poker or another style. In this guide, […] The post How To Value Bet In...

The concept of blockers in poker has been around for a while but, until recently, it’s one that has been far more stressed in Omaha games. Lately, however, we’re seeing the concept applied more in Texas Hold’em as well. While the value of blockers may not be as high in Hold’em as it is in […] The post Blockers In Poker: How They...

The concept of blockers in poker has been around for a while but, until recently, it’s one that has been far more stressed in Omaha games. Lately, however, we’re seeing the concept applied more in Texas Hold’em as well. While the value of blockers may not be as high in Hold’em as it is in […] The post Blockers In Poker: How They...

The honest truth is that poker bluffs are simple with a small amount of math. But in saying that, I also realize that many players are scared of poker math. It can look overwhelming at first, but with some basic knowledge it becomes very easy to do. And with a just little bit of extra […] The post Simple Poker Bluff Math first...

Poker is a game of math. The math can range from simple things like figuring out the size of the pot to very complex things like calculating the EV of multi-street plays. But poker is also a social/psychological game where tells, psychology, and dynamics come into play (especially in live & casino poker). Players that approach […] The post Why A Poker Math Approach...

I have a huge poker library, including my own three books. One of the best is “Poker for Dummies” by the memorable Lou Krieger, co-authored with Richard Harroch. Enjoying the warm fall weather, I was scanning the book while relaxing in my backyard. A section on “Bluffing on the Turn” caught my attention. Superb! My first thought was to share it...

The honest truth is that poker bluffs are simple with a small amount of math. But in saying that, I also realize that many players are scared of poker math. It can look overwhelming at first, but with some basic knowledge it becomes very easy to do. And with a just little bit of extra […] The post Simple Poker Bluff Math first...