Player Reads: How important are player reads in determining whether a bluff will be successful?

ednaroza

ednaroza

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What signs or behaviors do you look for to identify opponents who are more likely to fold to a bluff?
 
dannystanks

dannystanks

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You are looking for mostly good players at the table so you have to pay attention. Calling stations have a hard time folding, as does new players. Watch and see who is folding too much and go after those players. Good luck!
 
ObbleeXY

ObbleeXY

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You have to assume that all players are capable of a bluff. They are also capable of playing any two cards and hitting anything randomly.
So your job is to figure out if the story makes sense.
Is the action, pre- and post-flop consistent with your opponents range? Does the bet sizing make sense?
Do you have any stats on C-Betting, Bluffs or steals on this villain?
For example, if a player has a 3bet stat of zero and they three bet me, I'm inclined to believe it. But if their 3bet rate if 90%, Might be more inclined to just see it as nonsense.
I'm in a situation now where my home game crew think I'm such a bluffer that I can no longer get a bluff through....(so I rarely even try with them...just enough, early on, to get them assuming I'm lying....then I get those extra chips, or an extra street or two from them. :)
My CC games are different as you gotta play conservatively in CC Team League, for example, if you want to make it to FT.
 
Amanda A

Amanda A

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Some people overfold in general, others overfold certain streets eg they overfold preflop to 3bets, others overfold to flop c-bets when they are out of position or maybe they overfold the turn, then you may need to fire more than one street.
 
Rost

Rost

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What signs or behaviors do you look for to identify opponents who are more likely to fold to a bluff?
I closely follow the game of my opponents, and make appropriate notes about their game. In particular, I often notice players who play with junk or play too aggressively. My notes often help me make the right decision.
 
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Cooking

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Usually I try to bluff against tight players that I know won't call with a weak hand.
 
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