I loved this bluff

[JeffreyGB]

I may have had the best hand, but it seems iffy with such a full table. I thought my small bet screamed "I've got the flush but don't want to scare you."

Game #392726434: Texas Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1) - 2005/04/24 - 13:16:50 (ET)
Table "Cannonade" Seat 5 is the button.
Seat 1: bwemss6 ($38.25 in chips)
Seat 2: _flopped_ ($38.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Bajen3 ($100 in chips)
Seat 4: JGB146 ($131.76 in chips)
Seat 5: Jones80 ($86 in chips)
Seat 6: pokerface ($28 in chips)
Seat 7: atantra ($47.50 in chips)
Seat 8: smellycat ($77 in chips)
Seat 9: Kryptic ($69.50 in chips)
Seat 10: Ellerb001 sits out
pokerface: posts small blind $0.50
atantra: posts big blind $1
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to JGB146 [4d 4h]
smellycat: calls $1
Kryptic: folds
Ellerb001 sits back
bwemss6: folds
_flopped_: calls $1
Bajen3: raises to $2
JGB146: calls $2
Jones80: calls $2
pokerface: folds
atantra: folds
smellycat: calls $1
_flopped_: calls $1
----- FLOP ----- [Js 8c 3d]
smellycat: checks
_flopped_: checks
Bajen3: checks
JGB146: checks
Jones80: checks
----- TURN ----- [Js 8c 3d][5d]
smellycat: checks
_flopped_: checks
Bajen3: checks
JGB146: checks
Jones80: checks
----- RIVER ----- [Js 8c 3d 5d][6d]
smellycat: checks
_flopped_: checks
Bajen3: checks
JGB146: bets $3
Jones80: folds
smellycat: folds
_flopped_: folds
Bajen3: folds
Returned uncalled bets $3 to JGB146
JGB146: doesn't show hand
JGB146 collected $11 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot $11.50 Main pot $11 Rake $0.50
Board [Js 8c 3d 5d 6d]
Seat 1: bwemss6 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: _flopped_ folded on the River
Seat 3: Bajen3 folded on the River
Seat 4: JGB146 collected $11
Seat 5: Jones80 (button) folded on the River
Seat 6: pokerface (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: atantra (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: smellycat folded on the River
Seat 9: Kryptic folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[ender555]

suprised that no one bet at it

[DoGGz]

Suprised that your tiny bet gathered folds. Probably because everyone else missed also.

I don't see anything too special about this bet, but I wouldn't call it a bluff, I'd call it a steal... which means you are advancing your game, congrats.

[dalecooper]

It's a good move to have in your bag of tricks, but this was a very buyable pot. No one had top pair, it checked to the river, and the board was highly dangerous with a straight, flush, and straight flush sitting right there. These guys were all quite happy to let that one go.

[JeffreyGB]

My main reason for posting this was simply a "you don't have to bet huge to buy/bluff at a pot." I realize there's nothing spectacular about the hand, but it's still something people should keep in mind occasionally.

[melinda27]

your 4's might even have been good

[dalecooper]

your 4's might even have been good

That's true. No one bet the flop or turn, so probably no one had an 8 or a jack. Obviously no one hit the straight or flush on the river, or squeaked out a surprise two pair with a garbage hand. Probably the fours were good.

[DoGGz]

True, but that is very rare. If i'm in this hand with you and see you bet that 50% of the time I raise you and take your extra money. Sure, you aren't going to see a play like that typically at low limit, but it is something that as you move up will become more common.

My main reason for posting this was simply a "you don't have to bet huge to buy/bluff at a pot." I realize there's nothing spectacular about the hand, but it's still something people should keep in mind occasionally.

[JeffreyGB]

True, but that is very rare. If i'm in this hand with you and see you bet that 50% of the time I raise you and take your extra money. Sure, you aren't going to see a play like that typically at low limit, but it is something that as you move up will become more common.

My main reason for posting this was simply a "you don't have to bet huge to buy/bluff at a pot." I realize there's nothing spectacular about the hand, but it's still something people should keep in mind occasionally.

I guess I should have posted more about the table and my image. Both were, contrary to this hand, pretty aggro. The small size of that bet was very much something that would stand out as different, which is exactly why I did it. I wanted it to look like the classic-to-most-by-this-level "I'm acting weak so raise me because I want action" play. My hand may have been good. But if not, I genuinely believe I'd have been more likely to be called with a larger bet.