What three things made Tony Denove bluff on this dangerous river card?

This hand occurred during a recent Bally Live Poker high-stakes cash game at the Commerce Casino and Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. The blinds were $25/$50 with a $50 big blind ante.

This hand pitted Tony Denove against Justin Brown. Both players are professionals who play in the Los Angeles area.

In the video above, Denove talks through the hand moment-to-moment, providing exclusive insight into the thought process of a successful cash game grinder.

Late start

Denove studied music in college, learning all aspects of the industry but mainly focused on the writing and the production side. Upon graduation, he packed up and moved to Los Angeles. When jobs didn’t initially come his way, he found his way to poker as a viable source of income.

“I’ve been playing for almost eight years now,” shared Denove. "I came up in the small cash games, $2/$3, $5/$5 and eventually started playing higher. The music business is tough, man. Poker seemed a lot more stable than the art and entertainment world.”

Strategy Tip: What to look for when attempting a bluff

“When you’re bluffing the river versus a strong range, I think it’s crucial you have multiple positive factors about the hand/situation to consider it a good spot to bluff.

"Some things I consider are blockers, range advantage, and population tendencies. It’s not enough for me to pull the trigger with only one of these factors in my favor, but when you can stack a few of them together, your likelihood of success increases.

"In the hand we reviewed from Bally Live Poker, my holding had relevant blockers, and I could credibly rep some very strong hands that my opponent couldn’t. In addition, the line I took and the texture of the board are, in my opinion, underbluffed by population."

Knowing your opponent is key

“Often times playing a completely theoretical game can have you focusing on the wrong things. Almost all opponents won’t be naturally as aggressive as theory suggests, and making great plays against an inaccurate range will lead you astray and cost you money.

"It is very important to know that some players' ranges will contain bluffs and thin value bets in spots, and other opponents might always have the top of their range."

So, what to do?

"My advice is to stay in the moment and do your best to understand your opponent’s ranges that are actually at play, rather than what you think is happening from your poker theory studies.”