What is a Value-Bluff
When someone has the nuts and
wants a call, they are going to throw a small
bet out which will be crying for a call. This is
a small bet in relation to the pot, and is
usually called a beggar bet, because the player
is begging for someone to call. These bets are
usually seen around the amount of 1/3 of the pot
and smaller.
These bets are usually used by
players to extract a little more value from
their hand. Because you will see this play time
after time in situations where you want to get
value, it can also be used as a bluff. Using
this bluff play is not something you want to do
regularly, however it is a very effective tool
to mix in to your cash game play from time to
time. I like to refer to this as the
value-bluff. Always keep in mind poker is
situational, and knowing your opponents and the
flow of the game is key. These strategies work
well through the mid-stakes no limit games, both
short handed and full ring, because this play
will only be made heads up in a pot.
Advantages Of The Value-Bluff
One of the best things about
trying to value-bluff your opponent is that it
is not a play that is going to cost you a lot of
money. When you are only making a quarter pot
sized bet, you won’t have to take down more than
one pot for every few times you try. This makes
it a profitable play in the long run. The second
huge advantaged is game specific, but often
times you will see this type of bet made several
times when someone is trying to get value from
their monster. You need to notice this and take
full advantage if you see a lot of folding to
value bets going on.
Beyond those fundamental
advantages, it will be up to you to create your
edge in certain situations. You can set your
opponents up for a big hand if they keep folding
to your value-bluff. If they feel you are only
betting small when you have a big hand, mix in
what looks like a big over-bet bluff with your
next monster hand. You may find yourself taking
down a huge pot if played correctly.
Drawbacks
to the Value-Bluff
The biggest problem with the
value-bluff is you are often enticing your
opponents to call because it is so affordable.
This is why it is very important to realize the
type of play you are facing before making the
play. The other issue you will run into is
making the value-bluff on the turn and getting
called, and having to play the river. This play
works best in river situations because of this,
so you must also be prepare to fire another
barrel if you fail with it on the turn.
Who You
Want To Make This Play Against
You need to be making this
play against players who are going to be able to
fold to your value-bluff. You also want to be
making this play against the people who are
playing a lot of pots, and are probably involved
with nothing, who will hopefully recognize your
small bet as strength. Avoid the strong
loose-aggressive players, as they will often
sense your value-bluff and come over the top of
you.
You also want to pinpoint the
weak-tight players at the table with this play.
Anyone who is going to fold anything but the
nuts to a bet on the turn is who your after.
Small value-bluff raises on the flop, or leading
out small on the turn to a blank is a great play
against these players.
Ideal Situations for a Value
Bluff
Poker is a very situational
game with a lot of variables. You always want to
have a good feel for your opponents, and for the
general flow of the game. Are you playing with
serious players, or just people having fun not
worrying about the money or playing well? You
need to take all these into account when making
any type of play; however here are some good
ideas of when to use it.
- Check-raising the turn on
an all bricked board when your opponent is
aggressive and making a lot of continuation
bets.
- When the board pairs
against a weak opponent
- On a draw-heavy board
with a river brick
- Leading out with the bet
on the river when you have flat called and a
draw hits
There are a lot of different
spots in which you can use this play to be
profitable. Pay close attention for a few
sessions, realize where the play would work
given your opponents, then try and mix it in for
yourself.
