In the world of poker, the bluff is an art form. It takes guts, skill, and impeccable timing to successfully pull off a world-class bluff whether during the game in an online casino like Let Lucky casino or physical gambling venue. When executed perfectly, bluffing allows ordinary players to take down pots against more skilled opponents by making them fold superior hands. Throughout poker’s long and storied past, gutsy players have won millions with outrageous bluffs. Let’s take a look at some of the most daring and brilliant bluffs ever pulled off at the poker table:
- Stu Ungar’s Miracle Call
- Chris Moneymaker Bluffs Sammy Farha
- Phil Hellmuth Gets Bluffed Off Quads
- Tom Dwan’s “Zero Fear” Bluff
- Doyle Brunson’s Legendary Bluff
Stu Ungar’s Miracle Call
Stu “The Kid” Ungar is widely considered one of the most talented poker players to ever live. At the 1997 World Series of Poker Main Event final table, Ungar was heads-up against John Strzemp. On the final hand, Strzemp raised pre-flop with A-8 offsuit. Amazingly, Ungar called his raise holding just a measly 10-high. The flop came 9-3-2. Strzemp bet out 300,000 chips, Ungar called. The turn brought a 6 that didn’t help either player. Strzemp fired another big bet of 550,000 chips. Incredibly, Ungar called once again, with nothing but ace-high. On the river, a meaningless 4 came. Smelling weakness, Strzemp moved all-in for nearly his whole stack. After a few moments, Ungar made the gutsy call, winning the Main Event and his third WSOP bracelet with nothing but ten-high. It was one of the most improbable bluffs ever, now known as “The Miracle Call.”
Chris Moneymaker Bluffs Sammy Farha
Prior to 2003, poker was mostly an obscure game played in paypal casino and backrooms. But that year, an unknown accountant named Chris Moneymaker won his way into the World Series of Poker Main Event through an online poker satellite, and went on to win the whole thing. This helped spark a poker boom. At the final table, Moneymaker was heads-up against intimidating pro Sammy Farha. On one key hand, Moneymaker raised pre-flop with K-4 offsuit. Farha called with J-9 suited. The flop came K-J-8, giving Farha top pair. He bet, Moneymaker raised, Farha re-raised all-in – a gutsy bluff by Moneymaker with such a weak kicker. After thinking for several minutes, Moneymaker made the call, winning the hand and tournament. His daring bluff was instrumental in beating the seasoned pro heads-up.
Phil Hellmuth Gets Bluffed Off Quads
Phil Hellmuth is a living legend with over $20 million in poker tournament winnings. But in the 2007 National Heads-Up Championship, he was the victim of an unbelievable bluff by his opponent Jean-Robert Bellande. Hellmuth and Bellande saw a cheap flop of Q-8-3 rainbow. Bellande checked, Hellmuth bet with pocket 3’s for a flopped set. Bellande called. The turn brought a third 3, giving Hellmuth quads. Bellande checked, Hellmuth bet, Bellande raised, and Hellmuth re-raised. On the river, a meaningless 2 came. Bellande thought for a while, then moved all-in over the top of Hellmuth’s bet. Amazingly, Hellmuth folded his quads face up, not believing anyone would bluff all-in on the river against him. It was an incredible laydown and brilliant bluff by Bellande.
Tom Dwan’s “Zero Fear” Bluff
Tom “Durrr” Dwan is known for his outrageous bluffs and aggressive style. In the first season of the Big Game on Poker After Dark, he pulled off one of the most famous bluffs ever against pros like Doyle Brunson and Phil Hellmuth. With ace-high, Dwan raised pre-flop and pro Sam Grizzle called. The flop came A-9-6 with two hearts. Grizzle checked, Dwan bet half the pot. Grizzle called. The turn brought a third heart, giving Grizzle a flush draw. He bet out – a blatant semi-bluff trying to represent the flush. Without missing a beat, Dwan quickly raised all-in over Grizzle’s bet. Grizzle thought for a while, complained that Dwan “had no fear” and must have him crushed. Eventually Grizzle folded what would have been the winning hand. Dwan later revealed he was bluffing with nothing but ace high, a gutsy play that embodied his “zero fear” approach.
Doyle Brunson’s Legendary Bluff
Finally, no article on historic poker bluffs would be complete without mentioning the godfather of poker himself, 10-time WSOP bracelet winner Doyle Brunson. In the late 1950s, when Texas hold’em was still new, Brunson was playing in a high-stakes cash game. On one legendary hand, Brunson raised pre-flop with a terrible 7-deuce offsuit. However, the flop miraculously came J-7-2, giving Brunson two pair. An opponent bet out, Brunson raised, the opponent re-raised, and Brunson capped it with a large final raise, putting his opponent all-in. His opponent called and flipped over pocket kings. Brunson was way behind on the hand. However, the turn brought a miraculous deuce, filling Brunson’s full house with sevens full of deuces to win the monstrous pot. While luck was involved, Brunson’s determination to play junk hands preflop and bluff with them post-flop helped create his legendary poker status. This hand is where the “Doyle Brunson 10-deuce” hand got its name!
Conclusion
Throughout poker history, the gutsy bluff has helped amateurs triumph over pros, and made legends out of ordinary players willing to take risks. While a bluff backfiring can be catastrophic, when executed convincingly it is one of the most potent weapons in any poker player’s arsenal. The daring players who bluffed their way into poker immortality in hands like these prove that often in this game, fortune truly does favor the bold. Anyone can win a hand when the cards fall their way – but only a master can bluff their way to victory holding absolutely nothing at all.
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