Catch Bluffing
To catch someone bluffing is to call or raise because you believe they are bluffing.
The simple explanation
To catch someone bluffing is to call or raise a bet because you believe the player is bluffing, and to be right. It means seeing through the story the opponent was telling and calling with a hand that beats a bluff.
A closer look
Catching bluffs is a skill based on reading the story of the hand. If a bet does not make sense with the cards on the board and the earlier betting, the player may be bluffing. The hand you call with is often a bluff catcher, which beats a bluff but loses to value hands. Calling off your chips on a hunch is costly if you are wrong, so the decision should be based on the price, the opponent's tendencies and the story.
A practical example
An opponent bets big on the river after checking earlier. You call with a medium hand, believing they are bluffing.
Full explanation
To catch someone bluffing is to call or raise because you believe they are bluffing.
To catch bluffing means to call or raise a bet when you believe the other player is bluffing, trying to represent a stronger hand than he has.
The decision is a strategic move. It requires thinking about what hands your opponent could have and how likely a bluff is.
A bluff catcher, a hand that beats only bluffs, is the usual tool.
When you catch a bluff, you win the pot and also learn something about the opponent.
A bluff catcher
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB 88 of spades (8s)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 88 of spades (8s)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 88 of spades (8s)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
The flop has an ace. Player B has a pair of eights and acts first.
Board: AAce of clubs (Ac)77 of diamonds (7d)22 of spades (2s)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 88 of spades (8s)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: AAce of clubs (Ac)77 of diamonds (7d)22 of spades (2s)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 88 of spades (8s)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 18 chips
Player A bets 6.
Board: AAce of clubs (Ac)77 of diamonds (7d)22 of spades (2s)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 88 of spades (8s)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 24 chips
Player B calls with a pair of eights. The hand beats a bluff but loses to any ace, so it is a bluff catcher.
Board: AAce of clubs (Ac)77 of diamonds (7d)22 of spades (2s)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 88 of spades (8s)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.