Bluffing on the river — yes or no?

[soy.KIRA]

bluffing on the river can be powerful, but it can also be dangerous if you don't read your opponent well. Do you have your own rules about when to bluff or when to give up?

 

[alucaa]

Well, the truth is that I see it as more risky than it is advantageous, the few times I have done it it has gone wrong, but maybe it's because I'm not that good at reading people virtually, I'm the one who usually gets my pot easily stolen hahaha

 

[pentazepam]

 

[fundiver199]

Its a complex situation, but some of the questions, I ask myself, are these:

• Do I have showdown value, meaning can I sometimes win, if the hand goes to showdown? A high can win quite often, if the opponent has many busted draws in their range, but 6 high will literally never win.
• Can I tell a credible story, meaning are there any hands, I would play like this for value? If not its usually better to give up.
• Is the opponent a calling station? Then its obviously not good to bluff, and more hands have showdown value due to all the junk, they arrive with.
• Do I have relevant blockers? If there are 3 cards to a flush, then its best to have one card of that suit, because it gives the opponent less flushes in their range.
• Do I need to be balanced? Against regs I probably do at least to some extend, but against unknowns or fish there is no need to.

If I am to mention just one single rule, then it is, that if in dought its never a big mistake to not bluff the river. The reason for that is, than in GTO play bluffs are pretty much zero EV, and we mainly make them to force opponents to call us down more, when we are betting for value.

 

[dzsire]

It can be, and even should be, but it depends on the situation and should not be applied in all cases.
If there has been no raise in any betting round, it is usually a good idea to try, especially if a lower card comes on the river, but of course there are those who will take advantage of this.

 

[TeUnit]

Think this is very much dependent on the villans and the situation.

 

[besttest11]

Bluffing on the river in poker works only if your line tells a believable story. It’s best against thinking players who can fold. Don’t bluff just because you missed; bluff because the board, your image, and your blockers support it. If they’re sticky, save your chips.

 

[eetenor]

Bluffing on the river can be powerful, but it can also be dangerous if you don't read your opponent well. Do you have your own rules about when to bluff or when to give up?

Bluffing is a poker tool when used properly we expect to lose some of the time therefore there is no danger involved. The danger always occurs when we act without strategy, in a vain hope of success. Learn to bluff correctly and the danger ---fear of loss--- goes away.

 

[tagece]

I have to admit that I don't know. I never bluff.

 

[R.Melnyk77]

I have my own rules. Only one rule, to be precise. I bluff only against the opponent whose game I understand well. Otherwise, I'm not ready to take any risks.