Representing a strong range is important in making credible bluff

There is some great cash-game action in Las Vegas. In this hand from a $2-$5 no-limit game at the Encore at Wynn, I ran a bluff against a wide range that became narrower as the hand went on.

Action folded to me in the cutoff seat (the position next to the button), and I raised to $20 with Jc 9c and $2,000 in chips. The button called with $500 in chips behind, and the big blind called with $1,400 in chips.

The flop came 8c 2d 2h, and the big blind bet $30. I raised to $100. The button folded, and the big blind called.

The turn was the Qs, which added some equity to my complete bluff. My opponent checked to me. I bet $220, and the big blind once again called.

The river brought the Qc. The big blind studied the final card and then checked. There was about $700 in the pot. I thought about what my opponent could have and what it looked like I might have. I decided to bet $350. After a few minutes, my opponent made the call and turned over Ah 8s to win the hand.

This was an example of running a credible bluff against a capped range. The best hand my opponent could have held was 2-x, such as A-2, K-2, etc. But I think the big blind would rarely be betting first if his hand was that strong. Therefore, I thought he probably had 8-x, a small pair ( but not 2-2, obviously) or some random overcards.

I only had jack high, but I had overcards that connected with one of the cards on the board to increase my potential equity, so I could credibly represent a strong range that included an overpair (pocket nines or higher) or a suited deuce. When the big blind led for $30, I decided to pounce. This forced the shortstacked button out of the way and put the big blind on the defensive.

The queen on the turn was a great card for me to continue bluffing. It gave me a gutshot straight draw, and the queen was in my range of bluffs. The only hand the big blind could have held that would improve on the turn was Q-8. As far as he knew, I could have held a hand such as K- Q, Q-J or Q-10 that could have raised the flop as a bluff.

The river didn’t change things too drastically. The arrival of the second queen made it appear less likely that I had a queen. It didn’t matter though, because I had represented a strong range up to that point, and it was highly unlikely that my opponent held a queen. I could still represent high pocket pairs, a deuce or a random queen that I would have made a full house with. On the river, I could put out a bet and exert the final blow of pressure on my adversary. I went with $350, a half-pot bet that I could imagine myself making if I held 9-9, 10-10 or J-J.

It wasn’t enough to scare my opponent away, but he sure thought long and hard about it. The play didn’t work this time, but I believe my story was convincing. My opponent guessed right, and I happened to be bluffing.