Not many things get your heart racing in online poker quite like a bluff. Outthinking your opponent when you know you have a losing hand is a huge thrill. But perhaps the riskiest play of all is the triple-barrel bluff.

This isn’t about luck, but skill. To successfully execute a triple-barrel bluff is to read your opponent’s hand and know how they’ll react. This article takes a closer look at this expert maneuver including when, where and how it can be executed.

What Is Bluffing In Poker?

Bluffing in poker is an integral part of the game. If you sit waiting for a perfect hand, in any form of poker, you’re going to lose money. You need to pick up pots even when you don’t have the strongest hand.

This means betting when weak from time to time, attempting to deceive other players into thinking you have a strong hand. The hope is that they’ll fold, not wanting to lose more chips, allowing you to win the pot.

If you really want to know how to play poker well, understand that bluffing is not just about winning more hands. It also makes you less predictable and harder to read.

What Is a Triple-Barrel Bluff?

A triple-barrel bluff is one of the most deceptive moves in poker. It involves making increasingly large bets on the flop, turn and the river.

By definition, this move doesn’t include betting before the flop. However, it’s usually executed after a preflop raise in order to give the illusion of strength. The objective is to paint a narrative of a strong hand, slowly ramping up the pressure on your opponent until they break. 

Hand Example

Say you have jack and 8 of hearts against an ace and 8 of clubs. You raise preflop hoping to steal the big blinds, but you find a call. The flop of queen of clubs, ace of diamonds and 5 of hearts is not great for you, but you fire a standard-sized continuation bet of around half the pot. Your opponent calls once again.

In this instance, you have to give them credit for some kind of hand. Why? Because if they didn’t connect with the flop, why are they committing more chips to the pot with a losing hand? They might be floating, looking to pick you off on the turn, but that is extremely risky. 

If they had a very strong hand, you’d likely have been re-raised at some point. So, a moderate holding like a weak ace or medium pocket pair seems most probable. This seems like the ideal spot for a potential triple-barrel bluff.

The 2 of diamonds on the turn offers no help to anyone, so you fire again and get another call. Your final card is the 2 of hearts, which is just as unlikely to improve your opponent. Your river bet is around three-quarters the size of the pot, a significant chunk of your opponent’s stack. 

Given your continued strength, they can’t possibly figure that their top-pair weak-kicker is good, so they fold. A well-executed triple-barrel bluff.

Showing the Bluff

Should you show your hand in this instance? You don’t have to, but it can be a good idea. Knowing they’ve lost to a bluff will frustrate your opponent and could put them on tilt. It also demonstrates that you’re not afraid to pull some moves, making you potentially harder to read in the future. It all depends on your current table image and your opponents’ tendencies.

Did Your Opponent Bluff?

Want to know how to tell if someone is bluffing in poker? It’s not always easy, but there are a few key signs to watch out for. These include inconsistent betting patterns, changes in behavior, lengthy decisions and small bet sizes. You’ll need to study your opponents and learn their tendencies, then watch for unusual deviations.

The Purpose of the Triple-Barrel Bluff

The biggest misconception about bluffing is that it’s a reckless gamble. Instead, a bluff should be a well-calculated risk that is made when you feel your opponent is vulnerable. That certainly applies to the triple-barrel bluff. Here’s why it can be an incredible move.

Representing a Strong Hand

By consistently betting all three streets after showing preflop aggression, you’re clearly suggesting strength. 

Attacking Cautious Players

This move is particularly effective against tight players. Turning up the heat on the river is often too much for them to handle.

Disrupting Potential Reads

Just as you need to be reading other players, they’ll be trying to understand you. Next time you bet the flop, turn and river, they’re more likely to assume you’re bluffing. If you win the pot, you’ll have your previous triple-barrel bluff to thank.

Executing the Triple-Barrel Bluff

There are few things more satisfying in online casino games than outsmarting your opponent, but you can’t just bluff recklessly. Here’s what you need to consider before pulling the trigger:

Picking the Right Spot

You should never go into a hand thinking you’ll try a triple-barrel bluff. Instead, you need to wait for the right time. Look for situations when you can sell a believable story.

Establishing Credibility

At the start of a session, bet confidently and consistently with good hands. Show a few winners down. Build a solid table image and you’re more likely to get away with it.

Reading Opponents

If you’re quite new to poker, spend time predicting what your opponents might have. This is tougher when playing poker online games, as you can’t see their body language. But tells and patterns can still be found.

Assessing the Board

The texture of the board is crucial. If it’s quite coordinated and draw-heavy, that’s a big red flag. But if it’s dry, there’s a better chance that your opponents are not strong either.

Your Stack

The triple-barrel bluff is a big-stack play. You need to be able to fire good size wagers to ramp up the pressure. Not only this, but your bets must increase exponentially with each round of betting.

Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

One thing that sets apart regular players and the likes of the poker boom era legends is being comfortable with being uncomfortable. What does that mean? Well, your poker mindset matters and you need a high level of emotional control. You can’t commit to a triple-barrel poker bluff but then panic.

You need to become resilient and learn patience and positivity. Whether you’re playing in online poker tournaments or with your buddies over a few drinks, your mentality should be the same. Learn to be calm when the pressure is on.

Final Thoughts

Undeniably, the triple-barrel bluff is a high-risk maneuver. When it goes wrong, it can cause huge losses. But when done properly, it doesn’t just win the pot, but throws your opponent off their game and can lead to future success.

Think you have what it takes to execute a triple-barrel bluff? If so, register with BetMGM today and enjoy a variety of cash games and tournaments. And, if you fancy a break from poker, you can also play casino online.