I would fold for a few reasons. 1) We block the diamond - so it’s less likely that 2) BB just called a 3x which, at least at my local casino, means he has lots of little aces and will likely call most bets 3) he is a tight player making a suited ace more likely. Might have checked for pot control or because they thought they were in kicker trouble. 4) he is Rec (well I am too) so he is less likely to be bluffing. However, his only bet was a C bet and many rec’s will C bet most flops.
Hand 1. Insta-fold QdJd. Most tight regs are not turning the only obvious draws (flush draws) into river bluffs, and we block ALL the most obvious bluffs (like JdTd). Easiest question ever ;) Hand 2. Most good opponents are only betting good Kings and stronger for value. They know that the paired 7 allows them to attack with their range because they have the nut advantage. They can have all the flush draws and loads of straight draws. We would rather not have a jack (because of JT and J9), but otherwise I think this is a fine call. A better bluff catcher would be Qd8d.
Ok vs tight rec player, over-pot bet is usually weighted toward the goods, so I don’t think he has enough bluffs to begin with, I am blocking the diamonds that didn’t come in, I don’t think he’s turning a low pocket into a bluff, so this is an easy fold Fold. Vs the semipro: there are lots of spades and straight draws that missed, and he shld be capable. I am unblocking all the bluffs. I admit I have never bluff-caught a Q-high before, but this seems like the right set-up!! Call?!! 3rd case unknown BB: The problem here is what are the “obvious bluffs”? Pocket 8s? I have to think many people would check 88 on the river. Maybe A7 of spades or clubs? That’s 2 combos🤣 he just doesn’t have many bluffs here. Seems much more likely he has a king with a low kicker like maybe K6 of hearts-not sure he check-raises all his kings on the flop, especially ones with bad kicker. Fold.
I'm folding opponent has a larger range in BB, so more bluffs are possible, but the only hands the opponent is bluffing with are busted straights, which you would block I also find more made hands in their range than possible bluffs, that and given over bets on the river are usually a sign of value on lower stakes, I'd be comfortable folding
In a situation where the bluff catcher is pretty weak like Q high, does it make sense to bluff raise instead of flat call to ensure you don’t lose to a random A high or underpair?
Here, Jonathan is assuming that our opponent is polarised. When our opponent has good hands or air, we should bluff raise very infrequently, because we only have a hand that can go for value very infrequently. When we do bluff raise, we should block auto-calls. So, in hand two, a hand that blocks boats (like 6d2d) is preferable.
Hi thanks for great video! at 6:06 you said that, if we don't have 5 or 8 we unblock it from opponent to bluff with that. so on contrast is it good play that once you do have the 5 or the 8 to bluff-raise the river because they have less chance to have the straight?
It's always less important to block value than it is if you block potential bluffs. This is because there's always less bluffs than value in their range, so blocking bluffs effects the opponents ratio to be value-heavy more than blocking value turns it into being bluff-heavy.
Would hands that block value be the best candidates for those weak showdown hands that you can turn into a bluff? Something like having Ax of the suit where a flush comes in or one of the cards needed to make a straight while you also have a middle pair. You lose to all their value hands but block the top part of their range.
In like 3 years I’m going to have to get a real job again. Stop making content like this seriously the game is already getting tough as it is. P.S. Thank you for the charts, dammit!
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