I’ve been trying to use more bluff raises on the river, but it feels risky. How do you decide when a bluff raise is worth it?

[Gilead]

I’ve been trying to use more bluff raises on the river, but it feels risky. How do you decide when a bluff raise is worth it?

 

[fundiver199]

One of the things, I look for, is sizing tells. If someone make a very small river bet especially from out of position, then they are probably not very confident in their hand, and the last thing, they want to happen, is for me to put in a big raise.

 

[puzzlefish]

This is great. Maybe we can help one another. I've been trying to put in small river bets to induce bluff raises. It seems to only work once per table though. Afterwards the small river bets seems to induce folds, so I have to rotate between a half-pot bet and a 1/4-1/3 pot bet.

With river bluffs, I would suggest doing it only if at least one good draw makes it on the river while the villain has been cbetting steady since the flop.

 

[XM_]

At smaller stakes, I’ve found you either need a reason to believe your opponent is weak (opponent that uses different sizing when going for thin value) or to take advantage of the board texture changing on river when you hold a blocker (nut flush blocker when flush hits).

 

[CRStals]

OK let's talk through this as your question can be quite complicated to answer.

To pull off a successful bluff several factors need to be in place:

• Are you telling a story that is believable to your specific opponent
• What range are you putting your opponent on
• Are they the type of player that is bluffable

Story Telling
Pulling off a successful bluff requires your betting pattern to that point be consistent with the texture of the board and the other players in the hand. You will have much difficulty pulling off a bluff if you are in the big blind and the board is dry (no draws got there) with King-Queen for example. Your range is not likely to hit that, and depending on how your opponent played the hand, this board might hit their range far better than you, making a bluff tough to execute on the river.

However, ifyour opponent is playing from UTG and the board is Nine high, connected & suited, this is a far better situation for you to execute the bluff as this favours your range better.

But this only works if your betting pattern is consistent with the board. If you are the type of player that likes to invest only the minimum to hit your draw, and then raise big on the river when the draw gets there, this would work in the second scenerio if the draw got there. Your image is just as much in play as the board texture and how you played the hand. When the story doesn't read smoothly, players will pick up on this and call your bluff.

Range
If you have put your oppoonent on a range that beats the hand you are representing on the river, then don't bluff, That should go without saying, but if you have your opponent on a draw, and the draw misses, this now makes it far more difficult for them to call a river raise. If you have them on a pair or better though, don't bluff the calling station.

Opponent's Image
If your opponent is one that has been pushed off hands on the river in the past, this makes your bluff more achievable. However if they are the type that calls down on the river light, be wary that your bluff won't get through. Analyzing and knowing your opponent is crucial to pulling this off at the end of the day.

Hope that helps you!

 

[nelomec]

I’ve been trying to use more bluff raises on the river, but it feels risky. How do you decide when a bluff raise is worth it?

it´s complicated, for me , i decide to bluff when there´s a straight nuts, flush nuts on the table, or when i see other players on tilt.

 

[TeUnit]

If you have blockers to their hand, if you have the range advantage, when the villan folds to lots of river bets, and when the villan loses lots at showdown(use your hud).