We’ve all seen how Hollywood and its movies love to focus on the high-drama aspects of poker.  And the art of bluffing would definitely fit into this category as many poker shows or movies reach a climax at some high stakes table where everything comes down to a big bluff.  The cold call bluff is an also example of bluffing but you probably haven’t seen it glamorized before like with regular bluffing.

Knowing that the cold call involves a player calling when looking at more than a single bet in the same betting round such as a bet-raise, cold call bluffing is simply making the call after this bet-raise-anything that happens next scenario without having a hand that is traditionally truly worthy of doing so.

Using this strategy can often be a difficult one to pull off, as with any sort of bluff, but can definitely be done if the circumstances are right.  You’ll need to have had time to analyze the table that you’re sitting at to understand if you can successfully do it or not as certain tight tables tend be good setups for the cold call raises.

If the table has been extremely tight and aggressive (not an oxymoron in this case) the whole game, then seeing a bet-raise in front of you likely indicates that these players’ hands are for real and it’s probably a good idea not to go for a cold call bluff as these players have only bet big when they’ve had the cards and are going to protect their nut, or near-nut, hands by any means possible.

On the other hand, if the table has taken on a tight, passive personality, this represents a great time for a cold call bluff.  Your call will intimidate players in the hand who aren’t holding amazing cards and this sets you up for a great raise chance on the next card to push them out of the hand.  Especially if you’ve been showing good cards the whole game.

It’s also important to note what cards you have as well.  You’re most likely going to want to be semi-bluffing in these cold call raise situations so you have least have some outs if things go bad with the bluff.  So it’s only practical to have something in your hand if you’re going to be calling a multiple bet turn.  So leave the total bluffs to the movies when you make your next cold call bluff.   

Remember - you should use the cold call bluff only if the players at your table are good enough to interpret your call as a worthy hand.