BEST POKER BLUFFS OF ALL TIME

In this section, we will examine several genuine instances of outstanding poker bluffs that have been recorded throughout the history of live poker. cash games and tournaments We’ll analyze why these bluffs were so successful.

Let’s dive into our examination of two notable bluffing scenarios.

Bluffing with a Set: A Showdown Involving Phil Ivey, David Benyamine, and Patrik Antonius

• Action During the Million Dollar Cash Game, the blinds are set at $300/$600 with an additional $100 ante. Seven well-known professional players are present at the table. David Benyamine takes the lead by limping in with Qd9d from early position, and the action unfolds with several players joining in, including Phil Ivey in the cutoff with Kh7h and Patrik Antonius on the button with KsJh. ante The flop reveals KdKc2d, giving Benyamine a strong flush draw alongside Ivey and Antonius who both hold pairs. family pot The action proceeds with checks to Ivey, who places a $3,000 bet into a pot of $4,900. Both Antonius and Benyamine decide to call, while the rest of the players fold. When the turn brings a 4d, Benyamine now holds the second-best flush available on a paired board, yet he opts to check. Ivey follows suit with his own check. Antonius then bets $10,000 into a pot of $13,900, leading both Ivey and Benyamine to call. As the river reveals a 5d, it completes the straight possibilities on the board. Benyamine checks again, prompting Ivey to make a significant bet of $40,000 into a pot of $43,900. After some contemplation, Antonius folds, leaving Benyamine to deliberate before ultimately folding what would have been the winning hand.

• Reasons This Bluff Stands Out as a Classic Move^nd Exceptional Storytelling: Even though Benyamine's call on the turn seems questionable since he is likely behind, his ability to turn his hand into a bluff on the river after hitting a favorable card is commendable. trips Understanding Opponents' Strength: Ivey's perception of his opponents was spot on in this scenario. In a pot that had not been raised, what hands could the others reasonably hold? Benyamine, from early position, likely would have raised with strong hands such as AK, KQ, or a suited Ace of Diamonds rather than simply limping in. Additionally, there’s a strong indication that Antonius’s hand wouldn't be overly strong, as he was observing the action among four players who limped in before him.^nd Players Willing to Fold Strong Hands: Some less experienced players have a tendency to call with less than ideal hands. Therefore, recognizing your opponents' strength and attempting to bluff them off their hands requires that you face players capable of letting go of stronger holdings when the situation demands.

Bluffing Against Multiple Opponents: While it’s generally risky to bluff into several opponents, Ivey’s betting pattern and advantageous table position bolstered the effectiveness of his bet. This was evident when Benyamine remarked before folding that he couldn't see how Ivey could be bluffing in this situation. Well played, Ivey!

• Strategic Aggression in a Multiway Pot:
  The Matchup: Tom Dwan vs. Barry Greenstein vs. Peter Eastgate

• Play Summary: In a full ring cash game on High Stakes Poker, the blinds are set at $400/$800 with a $200 ante. Greenstein opens with AcAh from early position, raising it to $2,500. Astonishingly, every player at the table calls this bet, including the aggressive professional Tom Dwan in UTG+1 with QcTc and Peter Eastgate in the small blind with 4h2d. The flop shows 2c-Td-2s. Following a check from the other players, Greenstein places a continuation bet of $10,000 into a $21,600 pot. Dwan re-raises to $37,300, prompting Eastgate to make the call, and Greenstein also remains in the hand. The pot now totals $133,500 by the turn. Action checks to Dwan, who now bets a hefty $104,200, leading both Eastgate and Greenstein to fold.
  Reasons This Bluff is a Prime Example of Effective Strategy:
  what types of Greenstein’s Conservative Playing Style: With a well-earned reputation as a tight player, Greenstein’s actions in a multiway pot suggest that Dwan is aware he can potentially win this hand by applying relentless pressure, even against an overpair like AA. overcalling Eastgate’s Range Before the Flop: Eastgate, after observing one player raising and six calling prior to his turn, is receiving significant odds to see a flop with nearly any hand. Therefore, while Dwan can tell after the flop that Eastgate is likely holding at least a two, it stands to reason that it might be a relatively weak two due to the good odds he was given preflop. This could lead Eastgate to make the fold on the turn when faced with Dwan's substantial bet.

• Powerful Turn Bet from Position: Despite having multiple opponents, Dwan’s ability to execute another bluff on the turn heightens the difficulty for his out-of-position challengers. Not only can he accurately assess their ranges, but any large turn bet forces them to consider the ramifications of their decisions: if they call, how will they handle a potential $250,000 river bet? Being in position comes with distinct advantages, including the capacity to intensify the pressure on opponents.

• Depth of Stacks: Moreover, being sufficiently deep-stacked in addition to holding a positional advantage can make for a costly guessing game for opponents who are out of position. A wrong guess can lead to considerable losses, often pushing players to choose safer, less risky options.

Greenstein’s Capacity to Fold Overpairs: Many players become overly attached to strong hands like Aces, leading them to call through to the showdown. Dwan, understanding Greenstein's tendencies, recognizes that Barry is likely capable of letting go of overpairs when the situation calls for it and is likely to take this into account regarding his probable turn range, based on his initial raise and actions thereafter. He likely feels the same about Eastgate being able to drop weaker trips.

AN ACE CARD TETHERED TO A BALL AND CHAIN

• Outs: After the action on the flop concludes, Dwan is fully aware that he's trailing in the hand. Nonetheless, with the potential to increase his hand on the river—specifically with two Tens—Dwan knows he could potentially land the best hand available unless his opponents hold pocket twos.

Continuing the Bluff in an Optimal Moment: While Dwan’s initial raise may have put him in a tough position, factors such as holding position over his remaining adversaries and the vast improvement brought by a non-threatening 7 on the turn provide him compelling reasons to persist with his bluff. Sometimes, players can escape from being cornered in a hand, but only if they recognize the appropriate circumstances. When they identify the right moment to act, they must seize the opportunity.

• Matthew Cluff is a skilled poker player focusing on 6-Max No Limit Hold’em, and he frequently contributes online poker content to a variety of platforms.

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