Texas Hold'em: Deceptive Plays

Introduction

Adding deception to your game is very important because it makes you less predictable. If your checks always mean that you are weak or your bets/raises always mean you are strong, the more observant players will have an edge on you.

The Free Card

When you are in late position or last to act, you can raise with a drawing hand on the flop. This will likely make your opponents check to you on the turn, thus giving you the opportunity to check (if your hand does not improve) or bet (if you hit your draw). This will save you money if you do not improve and make you money if you hit. However, this move will backfire when you are re-raised on the flop. In these situations, it will cost you money but it remains a good play since you obtained information and have a draw to a better hand.

The Check-Raise

When you hold a good hand and it is you turn to act, check in the hopes that an opponent will bet so that you can raise when your turn comes again. For example, you are in early position and have Ah-Qs. The flop is As-Qh-6s. You check and three players in middle position also check. A player in late position bets and you then raise. The reason for check-raising is to make it too expensive for the drawing hands, like a gut-shot straight draw or overcards, to call. The check-raise from an early position also gives you the initiative in the hand. If they still call, at least you have obtained information regarding the strength of their hands and forced them to pay as much as possible for trying to outdraw you.

The Semi-bluff

Semi-bluffing is when you bet or raise with a hand that is not likely to be the best (at the moment) but you have many outs to outdraw your opponents if you get called or raised, although you are actually hoping to win the pot right there. For example, you are in late position holding Jh-Th and the flop shows Ks-6h-2h, thus giving you a flush draw with 9 outs. There are three other players in the pot and they all check to you. You bet without having the best hand but since they all checked, they indicated weakness and might fold pocket-pairs, a pair of 6's or 2's. Even if you do get called, you have 9 outs to the flush and maybe an additional 6 outs to win if you hit a J or a T, 15 outs in total. If called and it is checked to you on the turn, you have the option of taking a free card in case your hand did not improve.

The Slowplay

When you have a strong hand it is sometimes correct to slowplay. This means just checking or calling on one betting round with the intention of betting/raising on later rounds of betting. In Hold'em this is a very common play on the flop, because you want to lure players in and raise on the turn or river where the bets are doubled. This tactic can easily backfire when you let your opponents take free-cards that can beat your hand. Many players slowplay too often and lose pots they would have won had they not slowplayed. When this happens it is mathematical disaster, since you lose a pot you would have won had you bet/raised and now you have to pay off an opponent who has you beat.

In general you shouldn't slowplay when one of the following are met:

1.A free card can beat you.
2.A free card is not likely to give your opponent a second-best hand.
3.There are many opponents in the hand.
4.It is a large pot

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Let's Gamble

I especially like your point about slow playing the big hands. So many people see the pros do it, so they figure that whenever they have a killer hand, they should slow play it. Obviously, such general advice doesn't work all the time.

The part about the check raise is what confuses me. I think I'm timing it wrong, because whenever I check with draws on the board, everyone else checks, too. Out of the many times I've tried it, it's only worked a couple time. Any advice for using this tactic a little better?

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Archonwarp: "I'm not a compulsive gambler; I'm just a gambling enthusiast!"

PokerStars name: Thermoplyae

Well if your in early position then I would bet but you can use this when your in late position and someone bets then you can reraise.If you check and nobody bets then you can just make a big bet after the turn unless a stright or flush could of been made then just make a little bet to see what happens.

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Let's Gamble

yes slow playing a good hand can put you on top of the world........but when someone traps you on a slow play it is a terrible feeling.....ya when i get checked raised i am usualy thinkin a poket pair got trippled up or else there is 2 pair......but if played right a check raise can make for a great bluff

I wonder if you know of a formula to get people to pay you off when you have the nuts or close to it. I have been in this situation quite a few times and it seems to be hit and miss. Sometimes, when I make the nut straight or flush I bet really large and get payed off, while other times I can't even get a small wager paid. Is there a set amount that you wager in these situations?

If the pot is small after the flop I would bet around the pot amount, but if its pretty big I would bet half the pot, and I would do the same for the turn and river.

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Let's Gamble

I like to do the "progressive bet" Start off with a medium sized bet that you know they'll call after the flop. Then, double that bet on the turn. Double it again on the river. Basically, if the guy calls the first bet, he'll call all the other bets with the logic: "I'm already pot committed, so whatever." Drawing hands will fold when they see the river, and you're encouraging your opponent to see extra cards, so watch out for a better hand.

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Archonwarp: "I'm not a compulsive gambler; I'm just a gambling enthusiast!"

PokerStars name: Thermoplyae

Thanks for the tips. I've tried to slow play a good hand before and got blasted on the river. At other times it worked like a dream, especially with a player I've pegged as a bluffer. I love it when they go all in and I know I have the nuts.

there is some good advice there...my biggest problem on pokerstars is getting beat by weaker hands..i think being more aggressive may help but alot of aggressive players get picked off quick..poker stars seems to like paying smaller pckts way to often...my advice on pokerstars is to ride the waves when the cards are falling your way... and get along way away from your computer when your luck goes south.. pokerroom and party poker seem to have more realistic hand outcomes...