Mario, What I do isn't a bluff, it's a semi bluff. I may have a middle pair, a four flush or a four straight on the flop, so I do have room to improve if somebody catches me with my hand in the cookie jar. If I am last to act and everyone checks to me, I will bet the pot. I am representing that I have top pair or better. I usually do that with one to three other players. With more than three, somebody will call, so I don't do it.
When I am heads up and "zone cards" hit the flop, face or ten, and am first to act, I will bet the pot representing that I hit the zone card pair. I don't do this with an ace on the flop, because somebody who limps in is very likely to be holding a singleton ace.
I win 4 out of 5 times with the semi bluff. Sometimes somebody calls and I get lucky and draw out. Sometimes they go all in on me and I have to fold. Overall, it's a winning strategy, especially in tournaments.
One caveat: you have to have an image as a tight player to get the most benefit from the semi-bluff overbet. When you win a hand with aces or kings or another big hand, you may want to show them so folks know that you ONLY bet when you have a great hand. That way, when you hope to have a great hand, but don't have one yet, they'll give you the benefit of the doubt.
BTW, I also lose a lot of hands with pocket kings. Somebody always has an ace and the flop nearly always produces an ace. I think they are big winners over time, but the trick is to not go all in. Make a nice raise, but don't risk your whole stack.
As TJ Cloutier says, he only goes all in with aces at a full table. |
