As we move into the more arcane forms of move-making in Texas Holdem, we need to mention the check-raise bluff. This operates just like a heck-raise, except that now you don’t really have poker hand at all. You’re just representing one by first checking, and then raising.

Some of the more adventurous Texas Holdem professionals love the check-raise bluff, and try to pull a couple in every holdem session they play. Others of Texas Holdem players are more skeptical. The trouble with the check-raise bluff in Texas Holdem is simple: It’s a very expensive play when it fails. You’ve allowed your holdem opponent to bet at the pot, then you come over the top with a big raise, probably about the size of the new pot. You’re hoping that either your holdem opponent’s bet was a bluff, or that he had a medium-strength poker hand but will lay it down in the face of your apparent monster. Most of the time, one or another of these conditions will be true, but when he does have a real poker hand you’ve cost yourself a lot of money.

To see the problem clearly, imagine that the pot contains $2,000 after the pre-flop betting. You’re first to act against one other player. The flop arrives and misses you. For whatever reason, you’re unwilling to give up on the hand. You contemplate two moves: a straight continuation bet/bluff, or a check-raise bluff.

1. The continuation bet will cost you about $1,000. (Let’s say that if your bet doesn’t win the pot, you will go away and commit no more money.)
2. The check-raise bluff will cost you about three times as much. You check, he makes a continuation-sized bet of $1,000, and you come over the top for a pot-sized reraise of $3,000. You’ve invested much more of your stack to discover if your holdem opponent has a real poker hand or not.
The check-raise bluff isn’t one of our favorite moves in Texas Holdem. I’ll make it occasionally, but I’ll need to have seen this opponent lay down some poker hands even after committing significant chips to the pot.

Also recommended:

1. The Check-Raise and The Check-Call
2. When Bigger Bluff Sizes Will Fold More Hands
3. Deep Stack Raise Sizing in Texas Holdem
4. When you SHOULD NOT raise in Texas Holdem poker?
5. About Post-Oak Bluff in Texas Holdem