Don't Get Bluffed Out on the River

We all know that bluffing can be a powerful strategy and is applicable to every type of poker. Knowing when and how to make a bluff can make the difference between a winning and a losing session. Likewise, it is important not to allow yourself to be bluffed out by an inferior hand. There is nothing as demoralizing to your ego as an opponent bluffing you out on the river and turning up his cards with a big smile. "You got bluffed out!" says someone at the table. You respond with a frown, and cringe - emotionally devastated.

One of the nine key strategies described in my book The Greatest Book of Poker for Winners! is bluffing. I explain why a bluff is a highly valued strategy, the economics of the bluff, how to make a successful bluff - and how to avoid being bluffed out on the river. Actually, it's pretty simple: "On the river, call if you can beat a bluff." To be more specific, "Call on the river if you can beat your opponent's upcards (seven-card stud) and the pot odds are favorable relative to the card odds."

Let's illustrate this strategy with a real-life example. I was in a middle-limit seven-card stud game and was dealt a pair of aces in the hole. Since I was second to bet after the bring-in player, I did not raise for fear that everyone would fold. It was a fairly tight table. So, I just called. When the betting got around to the man in seat No. 3, four seats to my right, he promptly announced, "Raise." His upcard was the 9. I had to figure him for a pair of nines or a high pair in the hole. When the action returned to me, I reraised. This was my opportunity to reduce the size of the playing field. I figured to hold the best hand at that point. Then, the player in seat No. 3 capped it with the third raise. There were four of us still in the hand, and the pot had grown quite nicely.

On fourth street, the capper caught a second 9 to match his doorcard. He bet the maximum - one big bet. Everyone called, including the bring-in bettor. Fifth street didn't seem to help anyone, and I decided to "test the water." After seat No. 3 bet his pair of nines on the board and the bring in player called, I raised. The fourth player folded and the nines promptly reraised. Now there were three of us still in the hand and the pot was big.

Most of us know that when a player pairs his doorcard, he could hold trips. Meanwhile, another 9 had fallen in another player's hand, so it seemed more likely that seat No. 3 held two pair. (Poker is a game of probability.) If I could make another pair, my aces up might take the pot. Then, too, there was still a chance of catching a third ace, as the remaining two aces were still live.

Sixth street didn't seem to help anyone. Seat No. 3 continued to bet, and the other player and I called. The pot was huge. I studied him for a tell, but couldn't detect any. The original bring-in bettor's upcards seemed to indicate that she was on a straight or flush draw.

After the river cards were dealt, seat No. 3 made his bet before looking at his. The next player studied her cards and folded; she obviously hadn't made her draw. Now, it was between seat No. 3 and me. I shuffled my downcards, and squeezed them open while also looking at the bettor for a tell. He showed no emotion, nothing that would give me a clue.

The river card had not helped me at all. I still held just the pair of aces. I was sure he had me beat. Even if he didn't hold trips, he undoubtedly had two pair. Either way, I was "dead in the water." I might as well save another big bet, I thought. He hadn't appeared to be a deceptive player, but then I remembered the words in my book: "On the river, call if you can beat a bluff."

I studied my opponent one more time. No, I couldn't detect a meaningful tell. So, I looked at the pot; it was huge - probably the biggest of the night. Then, I called his bet, fully expecting to lose.

The expression on his face changed immediately to one of despair. Now, I had my tell. He turned up his holecards. All he had was the pair of nines! My pair of aces took the pot. That hand put me well ahead for the session.

Moral of the story: Don't get bluffed out on the river if the pot is reasonably big.

Editor's note: George Epstein is the author of The Greatest Book of Poker for Winners!. See the ad on Page 107.