The Ballsiest Bluffs in Poker History
In the world of both brick-and-mortar and online poker, there’s one elusive skill all players need to have to come out on top. A weapon of mass deception and nerves of steel. Combining strategy and wits, this tactic has the power to turn even the worst poker hands into unbelievable wins.
Of course, we could only be talking about one thing: the art of bluffing.
While bluffing has had an undeniable impact on the game of poker, some poker moments are bigger than others. Today, we’re going to be exploring the best poker bluffs of all time and how these heart-pumping moments carried big risks but even bigger rewards.
The Bluff of the Century – Chris Moneymaker
One of the biggest names in poker is none other than Chris Moneymaker. Known for his top-tier poker face, aggressive playing style, and of course, his jaw-dropping performance at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2003.
He’s particularly renowned in the world of poker because of his unique pathway to becoming a world champion – one that started with online poker. That’s right – Mr Moneymaker actually gained entry to WSOP 2003 by winning a satellite tournament in an online poker room.
But how did he win this fierce tournament, particularly as a relatively green competitor? By bluffing.
Moneymaker was up against a far more seasoned gambler, Sammy Farha, in the Main Event. Despite having an undeniably weak hand, Moneymaker made a bold move in the final round of betting: going all-in. Farha – who, unbeknownst to him, had the stronger of the two poker hands – folded, handing Moneymaker a $2.5 million win.
While some called it beginner’s luck, commentator Norman Chad dubbed the move as “the bluff of the century”. With that title in mind, it’s no wonder it scored a spot on this list of historic poker moments.
Becoming the Master of Bluffing – Phil Ivey
No one plays the game of poker quite like Phil Ivey. Known for his “enigmatic presence” at the table, Ivey made history at the age of 38 when he became the youngest player to ever secure 10 WSOP bracelets. Thanks to these and many other victories, his poker winnings now exceed $26 million.
In short, it’s safe to say that Ivey knows his stuff – especially when it comes to bluffing.
One of the most iconic examples of Ivey’s bluffing skills came at the 2005 Monte Carlo Millions. In a fierce head-to-head, Ivey and his last remaining opponent, Paul Jackson, raised one another across several rounds of betting. Finally, Ivey made the biggest move of all: betting every last chip. Jackson had nowhere to go, opting to fold under the pressure of Ivey’s prowess. The reward for Ivey’s bold bluff was a cool $1 million.
If that wasn’t enough to convince you that Ivey is a bluffing expert, he even teaches a MasterClass on the subject. That’s right – in this 25-minute lesson, you too can learn how to turn the crappiest poker hands into a pot of gold.
A Bluff Fit for the Screen – Isaac Haxton
Now let’s journey back to the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA). In an intense game of heads-up, Isaac Haxton and Ryan Daut – two extremely aggressive players – were facing off with each other.
After receiving their hole cards and a dud river, both players had nothing. Haxton even had the worst possible poker hand: a 2 and a 3. But that didn’t stop him. In a bold bluff, Haxton bet $700,000 before being raised to $2 million by Daut. After contemplating his next move for some time, Haxton decided not to see Daut’s bet but to raise him by going all-in. In a mere few seconds, Daut folded the round and Haxton cemented his win of over $9 million.
Clearly impressed with the gall of his opponent, Daut smirked and told him, “You’re going to like it when that’s on TV.”
Becoming the Master of Bluffing – Phil Ivey
No one plays the game of poker quite like Phil Ivey. Known for his “enigmatic presence” at the table, Ivey made history at the age of 38 when he became the youngest player to ever secure 10 WSOP bracelets. Thanks to these and many other victories, his poker winnings now exceed $26 million.
In short, it’s safe to say that Ivey knows his stuff – especially when it comes to bluffing.
One of the most iconic examples of Ivey’s bluffing skills came at the 2005 Monte Carlo Millions. In a fierce head-to-head, Ivey and his last remaining opponent, Paul Jackson, raised one another across several rounds of betting. Finally, Ivey made the biggest move of all: betting every last chip. Jackson had nowhere to go, opting to fold under the pressure of Ivey’s prowess. The reward for Ivey’s bold bluff was a cool $1 million.
If that wasn’t enough to convince you that Ivey is a bluffing expert, he even teaches a MasterClass on the subject. That’s right – in this 25-minute lesson, you too can learn how to turn the crappiest poker hands into a pot of gold.
A Bluff Fit for the Screen – Isaac Haxton
Now let’s journey back to the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA). In an intense game of heads-up, Isaac Haxton and Ryan Daut – two extremely aggressive players – were facing off with each other.
After receiving their hole cards and a dud river, both players had nothing. Haxton even had the worst possible poker hand: a 2 and a 3. But that didn’t stop him. In a bold bluff, Haxton bet $700,000 before being raised to $2 million by Daut. After contemplating his next move for some time, Haxton decided not to see Daut’s bet but to raise him by going all-in. In a mere few seconds, Daut folded the round and Haxton cemented his win of over $9 million.
Clearly impressed with the gall of his opponent, Daut smirked and told him, “You’re going to like it when that’s on TV.”