bluffing at no limit holdem

[booboobear]

One of the things I notice about low limit NLHE cash games is that pre-flop raises mean almost nothing, unless it is a really big raise. I see guys routinely calling 3x or 4x raises in a $1/2 game, because it is only $6 and $8 respectively. And of course, once one guy calls your raise, it becomes more and more attractive from a pot odds standpoint for other guys to call too. These guys are looking to play the odds, flop big and win a big pot. If they flop any kind of draw, a lot of these guys will stay with you, because of the implied odds.

In general, I think that if you bet enough to deny your opponents the proper odds to chase their draws, then you shouldn't care if they want to chase you. You will win money more often than not in that scenario. But I have learned the hard way that once in a while you will get chased down in that situation, and will lose a big pot.

Good points A decent raise would probably scare away good players who really know they don't have a good hand so I guess the trick is to make it big enough . I suppose poorer players like me would probably want to gamble and call a raise unless they were short money. Maybe that's another tip to count your opponents stack before betting , gee so much to remember.

 

[homonger]

Good points A decent raise would probably scare away good players who really know they don't have a good hand so I guess the trick is to make it big enough . I suppose poorer players like me would probably want to gamble and call a raise unless they were short money. Maybe that's another tip to count your opponents stack before betting , gee so much to remember.

That's the cliche about this game--a minute to learn, a lifetime to master.

But that's one of the funny things about this game... when you want action, you don't get it, and when you don't, you do. But yeah, that is another good thing to always be aware of--who's got chips and who doesn't.

 

[Haywood]

. IMO, there is no shame in getting bluffed out of a pot, as long as you can do it yourself to the other guy on occasion.

Agreed. If you play enough you should expect to lay down a winning hand once in a while. Otherwise you are likley playing too many hands.

This is a good thread. Alot of good points.
I play alot of no-limit cash games in the Detroit and Windsor Casinos so I thought I would throw in my 2cents.

1. In my experince there are alot of people who don't know odds well. Weekend warriors, drunks, and people who see it on TV and think its cool. This is more common on the 100 and 200 max buy in games. Not so much on no limit buy in. In long run they are dead money but sometimes they kill you with thier "bad" calls. How many times have you heard "how did you call $50 with a gut shot straight" when the pot is only 50 or 100

2. As siad by others, sometimes you can bluff better players more than weaker players.

3. It is important to know your table image as well as others. I assumed i was a somewhat loose player but I have realized that most people have me as tight. This allows me to bluff a little more. My raises are respected especially by players who play with me alot. (I definitely am tighter the more I play)

4. The good players I know don't bluff too often. It is definitly a needed skill but over used.

5. Better to bluff when you have a big stack. Even if you bet all in $60 at a $10 pot you may get a caller with mediocre hand because all they can lose is $60. The caller may have small pair and put you on AK or AQ.If you bet $60 when you have 250 in front of you then the caller has a tough decsion with small of medium pocket pair and should fold.

6. Good luck

 

[ispank]

The ability to "count" at Black Jack for managing bets and hit/no hit, like following the standard hit/no hit Basic System, are the minimum for requirements to "sit in" in my opinion. The house assumes you are following these basic pricipals, you can even ask the dealer "What doe the book say" before taking the hit.

The guys that get into trouble are the ones that cheat. My favorite is tip a corner (scratch or bend it) and look at the series of cards behind me. Even with continuous shuffles cards cluster so I have a good feel for what is coming next on the next show. The real counters can track the show with corner marking ... but I only play the $10 tables.

Standard Counting works best in 2 deck hand shuffle where you are mano on mano with the dealer.

Good luck helps too!