Last week I successfully executed a rare counter-counter bluff while playing in a typical firehouse game in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The game was ten-handed two-five-ten-ten high, alternating one round of holdem and one round of four-card Omaha. There were several good players in the game, as the ten-twenty game had not yet started.

In first blind position I was dealt a four, five, six, and eight, with which I called a five dollar before-the-flop raise by a somewhat predictable player who usually raises with a high pair plus. The flop was a junky four, seven, and queen off-suit. With thirteen outs (four threes, three fives, three sixes and three eights) I chose to drive rather than risk a checkout. Three players called. A deuce turned on fourth street. Since the game had been relatively quiet for me so far and I had not used up my quota of “moves”, I decided to continue driving to test the waters. Two players called including the before-the-flop raiser who was in last position. Both of the remaining players were very aggressive types and would probably be raising with any set (that is, trips or three-of-a kind).

The last card was a bricky ten. I methodically tried the anticipated bluff without much thought. The good player on my left raised after a brief thought and the before-the-flop raiser folded. I was about to write this one off - but I found myself thinking about it for a moment. What could he suddenly be so proud of? Could he really be slow playing trips? The action player on my left was definitely good enough to be trying the classic counter bluff in this situation where I might well be bluffing and the other player (who probably had the best hand) might call a single bet but was very unlikely to have enough to call a raise. This particular counter bluff scenario occurs more often at holdem where it is frequently successful against an aggressive driver.

Thus the stage was set for the rare counter-counter bluff which my sense of humor told me would make an interesting article even if unsuccessful. So I put on my best three queens smile and reraised. And lo and behold the raiser folded making some comment about how he would call me if he had anything at all. Who knows, maybe my pair of fours were the legitimate winners after all! But then we all know what would have happened if he had coolly pulled off the counter-counter-counter raise!