The Bi-Polar Strategy

Table image plays a big role in any poker game whatever the stakes. And recently on some of the top poker forums, some discussion has been going around as to whether making an odd first impression is +EV in terms of making money in that game in the long run. The example given was say you’re sitting down at a new table with poker players you’ve never seen before. You raise first hand, and bluff it all the way down to the river, regardless of the cards and, win or lose, you show the table those cards (Obviously this works better if you have a hand like 72o) but you get the general idea. What you’ve done is made a big first impression. People will be making conjectures about your play, your style, and your aptitude in the game. Are you a fish, a maniac who’s loose as a host at a bordello, or have you simply lost your mind and decided you wanted to donate to the charity of poker? With that, you can then use that impression. And use it to your advantage. Think about it. You bluffed air down to the river and went to show down. Don’t you think later on, when you have a monster, more people are going to be willing to call you down? This approach of course takes some good acting and a great transitional online poker game in order for it to work, but if you can pull it off correctly, the consensus is that you’ll be able to turn that crazy image you left in their minds as a first impression, into a money making machine after you bust a few brave souls who are trying to keep you “honest” from then on out. Again, food for the brain, but also a very interesting line to try out if you’ve got the roll to do it.