Poker News

James McKenna, Ph.D.

Last time I discussed the more structured type of bluffer. These are players who like to either dare you or sneak up on you. I also mentioned in Part I, that there are a whole set of players who are not so well planned in their bluffs. They are much looser players who bluff and keep the action going. Some of these unplanned bluffers I refer to as employing “Attack Bluffing.” Other unstructured bluffers are less aggressive and seem to be playing hands they don’t have but wish they did. I refer to these players as using “Dream Bluffing.” While structured players are bluffing with their eyes wide open, there are players who like to close their eyes with little regard to planning when they bluff.

“Attack Bluffs” are aggressive and unplanned bluffs. When one of these “no fold ‘em hold ‘em” players splashed the pot with a raise, I had already pegged him for an actionoriented guy whom I refer to as a “High Roller.” So, it wasn’t a surprise to me that he chose an “Attack” approach to bluffing. Often, when you see such bluffing occur aggressively, with flare, the bettor hasn’t even looked to see what he or she is betting into. Such players take risks more liberally, will bet into over-cards, and can be a threat to the most seasoned of players — particularly if the loose player is catching their hands. They will give you action and stay in longer than they should. However, this high roller deserves a word of caution. Since they are closer to the center on a scale of Responsiveness/Aggressiveness, they can modify impulsive bluffs and become more structured when needed.

“Dream Bluffs” occur from players who bluffs are passive and unplanned. These bluffers play more with their hunches. They will do little to influence play and pretty much let the cards play themselves. They are bluffing as if they are strong because they actually believe that they are going to win the hand. They are dreaming of the hand they are going to get. It can’t even be called semi-bluffing, because they are bluffing on their dreams and don’t even have a pair or a gut-shot straight. Recently, I was playing with a very friendly player who seemed to play a lot of hands. Some people would have called him a “calling station.” People were filling up on his frequent calls. I began to wonder about how he was playing. So, I asked him when he showed his hand (Ace high, no pairs), “That’s wasn’t even a ’semi-bluff.’ What were you thinking?” “Well, I would have had him beat if I got another Ace!” These “dreamers” will bet more on the come and play as if they already have the hand. They are playing more from emotions while being passive.

Both these styles of bluffing come from loose players. The difference is that the “Attack Bluffer” is aggressive; while the “Dream Bluffer” is much more passive. There’s an expression in poker to “play ‘em like you’ve got ‘em!” Well, this is more of a way of life for all bluffing styles. However, the “Dream Bluffer” ismore of a stone-cold bluff. They tend to play every hand as if they already have what they are representing. The “Attack Bluffer,” while misrepresenting his or her hand, is motivated more from seeking excitement. So, how does one tell whether a person is dreaming, daring you, sneaking up on you, or attacking you? While I go into more detail in my book (Beyond Tells), the answer is simply, “Know your players!” By determining the personality types of players, you will know how to determine whether they are structured or loose. The highly structured players will favor planned bluffs (”Dare” and “Sneak”). The looser players will lean towards impulsive bluffs (”Attack” and “Dream”).

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