In poker it's not only what's in your hand that counts, but
also what people think is in your hand. If you bet as though
you have good cards, other players just may believe you do have
good cards. Therein lies the essence of bluffing.
Of course there are good times to bluff and bad times as well.
Here are a few insights into bluffing:
Don't:
- Bluff bad players. Bad players don't necessarily know when
they are beaten. So even though you may present yourself as
having the stronger hand, they simply may not notice or may
not care.
- Don't expect bluffs to work in low limit hold'em. If the cost
to see your cards is not significant, why should your bet (or
raise) keep anyone from paying to see them?
- Try to bluff many players. You may fool some of them, but
if you don't fool everyone you are in trouble.
Do:
- Bluff when the board says "someone" might have made
a good hand. An example is when the third of a suit hits the
board. "Someone" might have a flush. If you bet as
if you have the flush, the other players may believe you do.
- Bluff against good or tight players. If you are in a pot with
a player that looks for a reason to fold, give them one. Try
betting big and making them think you have something they cannot
beat.
Bluffing is something that is done between players, so the more
you know your opponent's habits the better. If a player is a
'calling station' and always calls bet so they can get to the
next card or see the showdown, don't bother trying to bluff
them.
If players have caught you bluffing recently, they will remember
it. If you try to bluff again too soon do not be surprised if
someone calls you, just to 'keep you honest'. Of course this
can be used to your advantage. If you find yourself with good
cards right after being caught bluffing, you are more likely
to have players call your bets, rewarding you with a bigger
pot.
Some circumstances have risen as 'typical' bluffing situations.
They can be used to your advantage, but veteran players may
recognize the play and use it against you. Typical bluffs include:
- Sitting in late position pre-flop. Everyone folds before you.
You then bet big, knowing that there are only two players competing
against you and that they didn't bet because they liked their
hand. They bet because they had to. The players may interpret
your big bet as a sign of strength and simply fold. You will
have "stolen the blinds".
- Betting big from last position after everyone else has checked.
You can interpret their checks as a lack of confidence in their
cards. They may interpret your bet as a strong hand and fold.
Bluffing is an art, and it spices up the game of poker. Make
bluffing a part of your arsenal, but not your only weapon at
the poker table.
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