I'm re-reading the NL section from SS2 for the 3rd time and taking extensive notes this time. I know a lot of these concepts are designed to be used against thinking players. One of the 1st things Brunson discusses is how he handles a situation when he thinks his opponent is on a Post Oak Bluff.

POB's will only work it seems when you know that your opponents are observant. So my question is: At what level do you start to see this type of play?

At the lower levels when someone bets a small amount into the pot it is usually either because they only know how to use the min-raise button, they actually have and think they can get a call, they actually have a hand but are afraid to bet their money, they are actually bluffing and think that their small bet is enough to get everyone to fold.

So, at what level do you usually see people bluffing with small bets into the pot thinking that their opponents will smell a trap and fold? I know it's not the $25 level and probably not the $50 level, but do you see this at even the $100 level or is it much higher than that?

I play $200Nl and $100NL.

Betting a small amount into a large pot is fairly common on my games, especially by newbie players, for the same reasons you listed.

I don't think that any experienced player would make a post-oak bluff expecting his opponent to fold.

If I'm on the river with a mediocre holding and someone bets a small amount into a big pot, I'm not going to be thinking much about it -- I'm going to be calling. An experienced player knows this.

Post Oak bluffs DO NOT work online and Im not sure they work anywhere. People will call you.

The other day a guy bet like $6 into a $50 pot on the river. I called him with A high just to see what kind of hand he would play that way (weird flop and turn action) and my hand was good.

If youre going to bluff a river, you have to make it 3/4 pot or so.

POB's are not very effective. They generally only work on the RIVER against someone who missed their draw. Or on other streets if the players have no hand/draw at all.

The best way to use the POB is to get caught doing it. Especially in live games when everyone will notice. It helps to cheaply put the idea in the other players heads that you will bluff. It can help your value bets get called down later because a POB is basicaly bluffing with a value bet.

I have been playing the NL50 at FTP only of late. If someone bets a small amount, say 50c into a $3 pot, and I have TPTK I will raise them at least $3. POB do not work IMO and I think in SS2 Doyle is saying don't try it.

Online you can make a small bet with the best hand in order to get called.

if my opponent bets $1 into an $8 pot on the flop, and i've never played with him before....i've started raising (in position) $8-10 with any pair....any draw....sometimes just with any two cards. usually they fold. sometimes they like to do it with their bigger hands and then re-raise (or call and lead the turn). but usually they fold....and either way i make sure to take notes on what that weak bet means. i'm not too worried about them mixing it up with the meaning of their weak bets....because usually the players that are good enough to "mix it up" aren't making min-bets on the flop to begin with.

i played against someone last night at $50NL who would always bet 50 cents when he was drawing/bluffing and always bet close to pot with a real hand. he didn't do so well.

on the river....anyone who bets 1/4 pot or less is going to get called almost all the time. so it's not even really an issue.

jon

All interesting replies. What I think I'm hearing here is that the POB is very rare, especially on-line and most at these levels don't stop to think their opponent is putting out such a weak bet because they are looking to trap (which would be the desired effect of the POB) w/ a monster. Just to clarify as well, I wasn't planning on ever using the POB, but merely wondering at what level Brunson's tactics against what he thinks is a POB is applyable.

I dont know if I would call a 1/3 pot bet on the river a POB.

That seems more like value betting a pot, or a continuation bet.
-Jus

Maybe I'm confused, but isn't that the definition of a POB? A bluff that looks like a value bet?

That's exactly it as I understand it and that's exactly the point Juskimo. It's supposed to look like a value bet or a trap to an educated player.