The most frightening movies involve maniacs waving about large pieces of cutlery or creepy, undead, critters who keep coming for their victims even after somebody has removed their frontal lobe with a fire ax. Rarely does anybody go to the movies to be frightened by a bunny (unless it has been mutated by nuclear radiation). Monte Python had a very cute, loveable, yet horribly frightening homicidal bunny in its film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”. Most people just got a good chuckle out of it though. Of course that was the point.
Very rarely is something harmless looked upon as a dire threat; unless somebody behaves as if the thing in question is actually toxic. While cute little bunnies may not be harmful on their own; rabbits that can spread a flesh eating virus if they bite you would be terrifying.
All this talk of cute and fuzzy bunnies is meant to symbolize a harmless flop in a Texas Holdem game. Anybody can see a King or Ace on the flop and pretend that the big card connects to something in their hand, but let’s assume in this pokerstrategy article the flop is something like a 2c-5c-7h. On the surface this is fairly harmless. If you play it correctly, it could be the means to a cheap win.
Betting big with a scare card on the table often leaves people questioning whether or not you have a legit hand, or if you’re just bluffing. Showing some major aggression with a benign flop is an act that may have more legitimacy to it. The flop mentioned above is not one that a player often tries to run a bluff with. The simple reason for this is that there is nothing scary about it. The fact that your opponent sees no danger in the cards on the table adds a lethal edge to your bluff.
The fact that there are two clubs on the table leaves speculation open about whether or not you have a pair of clubs in your hand that would leave you one card away from a flush. Of course there is always the threat of a straight looming just on the periphery. No player could discount the possibility that you have completed a three of a kind either.
While there are no direct threats sitting there on the table, there are a whole plethora of implied threats. This will make many players nervous and cause them fold. Your aggression will have even more power if you saw the flop cheaply. It will look like you connected on something and were pressing your advantage. If someone doesn’t fold, this is the sort of bluff you should be prepared to take to the end. If they haven’t bought the act after the flop, maybe your unwavering confidence will convince them to fold by the time you get to the river.
Good Luck!
