♠️📈 Win-rate Wednesday: Induce More Bluffs

The Little Adjustment That Add Up

Author

Mike Deckard
May 14, 2025

📈 Win-rate Wednesday: Induce More Bluffs

Last week in ♠️🧠 Mental Game Monday: Did You Really Have to Bet the Flop? , we talked about checking as a weapon — especially for inducing bluffs.

Today, we’re not moving to a new topic. We’re building on it.
Because if you want a game that holds up at any table, against any lineup, you need a system that connects — not just a pile of disconnected tricks.

In The Winner’s Circle, we’re not chasing clickbait spots. We’re building a reliable, default game — one you can trust when you sit down against strangers and still walk away with the edge.

When Should You Try to Induce a Bluff?

Take a second. What comes to mind?

“When I have the nuts and a scare card hits.”

Sure. But how often does that happen? Once a session? Less?

Let’s zoom out. Go back to our earlier discussion: default c-betting spots as the preflop raiser.
What if we shifted our focus to:

How do I win the most from their range?

Hands That Benefit from Inducing

You don’t win big pots with middle pair.

So ask yourself:

  • If you're c-betting middle pair… are you value betting?

  • Are you bluffing?

  • Or are you just hoping they fold?

When you check instead:

  • You protect your checking range.

  • You open the door for your opponent to make a mistake.

  • You give your hand a shot to overperform.

This is especially profitable when your opponent’s range is full of weak, unmade hands. If they’ll fold to your bet, why donate that fold equity for free when you’re holding something you’d like to get value from?

🎯 Pay Attention the Next Time You Play

Next session, take mental note when you check flops after raising preflop.

Did you have a marginal made hand?

Did your opponent stab the turn?

Were you more comfortable making a turn decision after giving them the chance to act?

You might find your win-rate climbing in spots where you used to feel stuck.

🔼 Take It to the Next Level

Let’s say you take this advice and start checking your weak made hands…
And suddenly, you notice opponents consistently stabbing when you do.

How would you adjust next?
How can you leverage this tendency to push our profit even higher?

Hit reply and let me know what you come up with.
I’m curious to hear how you’d level up this edge.

Stay sharp and curious

— Mike

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