Part: Part Eight - Making Moves

The delayed bluff

Flop
Heads-upPot 2,600 (6.5 BB)8♠7♣3♥COA♦Q♣● 16,000 (40 BB)YOUair on a board that favors the callerBB● 16,000 (40 BB)Big blindchecksD

You opened and the big blind called. Flop 8♠ 7♣ 3♥ - a low board that hits his range; you hold A♦Q♣. He checks.

A low, connected board favoring the caller, and you have air. Best?

WhyCheck behind. This board hits the big blind's calling range more than yours, so an immediate c-bet runs into too much resistance. Check to keep the pot small and your options open - you can fire a delayed bluff on a better card.
What happensYou check behind.  Pot stays 2,600 (6.5 BB).
Turn
Heads-upPot 2,600 (6.5 BB)8♠7♣3♥K♠COA♦Q♣● 16,000 (40 BB)YOUa card that favors you nowBB● 16,000 (40 BB)Big blindchecksD

Turn K♠ - an overcard that favors your range. He checks again.

A king arrives (good for you) and he checks twice. Best?

WhyFire the delayed bluff. The king is a card you'd often hold and a scary one for him, and his two checks signal weakness. Betting now represents the strong hand and folds out his weak holdings - the delayed line beats c-betting the bad flop.
What happensYou bet 1,800; he folds.  The delayed bluff takes it.
You skipped the c-bet on a board that favored the caller and bluffed instead on a turn that favored you - the delayed bluff picks the right street to attack.

Delay your bluff on boards that hit the caller's range - check the flop and fire a later card that favors yours.