Effective bullying

If you've got a short stack isolated and you want him to fold because you're (semi)bluffing do you prefer to go all-in or bet his stack ammount? The bet would effectively be the same but one may have a psychological advantage over the other. If you go all-in the size of your stack may add to the intimidation factor and if you bet his stack then it may become more obvious that you're picking on him. What do you think?

Ahh so if you want him to call then making it look like you're bullying him would be better with the 90% bet. I'll have to try that.

Betting his stack is the attitude to have, one that is most effective I believe. 90% will tilt them i have found, where as betting his stack seems to say lets dance. For me this one gets a more respected resopnse.
More so by the rest of the table rather than the short stck who will be gone shortly anyway.
good luck in your endeavors....... Bearcat

When bullying, stick to the 31/2 to 4 times the BB, it makes you look a lot stronger and it would probably still be most of his stack.

Barrettm95 said:

If you've got a short stack isolated and you want him to fold because you're (semi)bluffing do you prefer to go all-in or bet his stack ammount? The bet would effectively be the same but one may have a psychological advantage over the other. If you go all-in the size of your stack may add to the intimidation factor and if you bet his stack then it may become more obvious that you're picking on him. What do you think?

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I have thought this same thing before. I think there is a possible intimidation factor added in with the over bet. It's even worked aginst me before...I be sitting there and think DAMN thats a huge bet...I'm folding....then think a moment and realize my stack and then tell myself, damn I shoulda called that haha.

When playing this strategy live I like to say "You're all in" instead of "I'm all in".

I prefer just to bet my opponents stack, not go all in, especially when my stack is alot larger than my opponents. I feel it looks more like you are paying attention and actually may have something other than just hitting that all in button and looking like you're trying to be a bully. Of course though you still have to mix it up, and I have done both. When I'm short stacked I'm calling the all in bet if I have a remote chance.

I think that if you want to bully or at least apear to be then you have to play strongly.. I would go all in because its like dareing them to call and without a premium hand most would not risk it

Barrettm95 said:

When playing this strategy live I like to say "You're all in" instead of "I'm all in".

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I like this too, or just "I'll put you all-in." Online I like to bet the amount they have.

This might sound mean, but when I'm playing online, and can see the exact dollar figure that he has left, I subtract $1.25 from whatever he has left, and bet that.

I.e. if he has $47.63, I bet $46.38.

If his response is an immediate "wtf?" or even a lengthy delay, I let him know that the $1.25 is for bus fare. It amuses me, especially in a tournament where the chips are meaningless.

In a live game, I usually just bet about 2/3 of their chips so they know I'm priced in, even if they suspect a semi-bluff and contemplate the re-raise.