How to Detect Poker Traps and How to Set Poker Traps
February 27, 2007
Not many players are familiar with the poker trapping strategy. That is why they will always fall into a trap set by a more experienced or a tricky player. Even veteran players can from time to time fall into such traps. What we are interested in is why we fall into such traps.
What are the telltale signs that we must pick up on so we do not fall into poker traps? And most important of all, how can we set up poker traps of our own and trap other poker players? If you are looking for the answers to all these questions all you have to do is read this article. We will reveal to you all the mysteries of setting and detecting poker traps.
The first thing you must concern yourself with is understanding what a poker trap is. A trap is when you have the best hand at the table but you fake it, let the other players think you do not have a strong hand and lure them into overplaying their hand.
Let’s say that you got an Ace-high flush on the flop. So far this is the best hand, unless the board pairs. But the only way that could happen is if another player gets four of a kind, and what are the chances of that happening. Slim at best. In this situation you must play it cool and not reveal the fact that you have a strong hand. You can bet small or check it.
Let’s also say that another player at the table has a big slick (Ace-King) and he gets an Ace on the flop. He may now think he is holding the best hand at the table. Another player is holding a small pair, say 4’s, and he gets another 4 on the flop. For the purpose of this example we will assume the flop was 4-Ace-Jack.
The reason you have to bet small now or check it is to keep the other players in the game. If you would have placed large wagers the player holding the Ace would realize he’s trouble and the small pair would’ve likely folded pre-flop. But they have nothing to worry about since you have bet small. They do not see you as a threat.
The player that has three 4’s tosses out a bet of 4 times the blind. The player with the Aces will call this bet. Stall for a little while, pretend like you are thinking about it and then call the bet. Doing so makes sense as you are getting decent enough pot odds.
At this point they have already fallen in the trap. Both players did not see your trap and both of them fell into it. Now just let them bet into you and just call their bets. Do the same on the turn, but on the turn the player with the Aces decides to drop out.
The only players left at the table are you and the player with the three 4’s. He will bet big, he will place a bet as big as the pot. Again, stall and pretend you are thinking about it. Then call the bet, but make sure to sound reluctant.
The river is next. The three 4’s go all-in. You then simply call the bet and leave them all astounded. Nobody saw it coming and everybody fell for your trap.
All the players that fall into poker traps need to ask themselves two simple questions:
- Why did he call the raised pot on the flop and turn?
- What is he holding? Does he have a good enough hand if he keeps calling the bets? What is he planning? Is he setting up a trap? Is he on a draw?
Never, and I mean never act on impulse. Always think about what you are doing and what the consequences might be. Always think before you act. Your actions must be influenced by understanding what the other players at the table are doing.
Never underestimate any poker player. You are only setting yourself up to falling into a poker trap if you do so.
Your behavior on the flop should have raised a few suspicions. You were obviously stalling as there was a potential flush showing on the flop. You were definitely not on a draw because you were calling all the big bets.
No real poker player will ever think you are on a draw if you call a raise that is 4 times the big blind. The only time you could get away with this is if the other player is a real novice or if he is really drunk.
Mistake number one:
- Assuming the other player does not have a strong hand and not understanding his behavior.
Mistake number two:
- There is a possible flush on the table, but none of the other players have it. No one says I am not the one to hold the flush just because I did not bet on the flop.
If the other players at the table, the one holding the Aces or the one holding the 4’s, would have taken these things into consideration, they may have seen through my act. If they had only stopped to question my betting behavior they wouldn’t have fallen into the trap. Whether the player with the set of 4’s could fold them is another matter.
What other reason than setting a trap could I have for sticking to this hand?
It is never easy to detect a poker trap. If you are playing with a good poker player and he calls a big bet, chances are he is setting a trap. Other times they will stall for time and it will seem like they are considering their options, but only to call, raise or go all-in. You can be pretty sure that this is a trap if you are playing with a good poker player. His call is definitely a trap and his raise or all-in is a warning sign. You will probably lose this hand, unless of course you are holding the best hand at the table.
Stalling is one of the telltale signs of a poker trap. Whenever a poker player is taking too long to make a decision he is setting a trap, he has a strong hand. Learn to recognize when the player is really thinking about his options or if he is just delaying the game to set a trap. If you learn to see through his act you will efficiently avoid his trap. Simply do the opposite of what your opponent wants you to do when there’s an obvious tell like this one.
As a rule of thumb you should know that good poker players either raise, re-raise, or fold. They rarely call bets. Draws are nothing than a waste of time and money for them. That is why a good poker player that stalls and calls bets is definitely setting up a poker trap.
You never took the time to think what the other players at the table are holding? Well, from now on you should keep an eye out for their betting pattern, position, and play history, and according to it you should reflect on what they may be holding.
It is extremely easy to know how strong your hand is. It is a simple as taking a look at the cards in your hand and the cards on the table. The tricky part is realizing what the other players at the table are holding. You should learn to read their normal betting patterns and skill level. Whenever they deviate from the pattern you should be aware that they may be setting a trap.
Keep all the things presented in mind and hopefully you will not fall into poker traps so easily. You can even try setting poker traps of your own.
