Bluffing - Should You Do It?

How, When and Why To Use Bluffing in Poker..

Lets face it... If you want to play poker you want to learn how to bluff!

What is a bluff? Most of us know the answer to that questions. A bluff is to make your opponents believe that you have a strong hand when you do not! It can be a very powerful tool if used correctly, on the other hand bluffing without reason and planning will get you out of the game sooner than later. Many players have lifted bluffing to an art carefully taking into consideration their position in the game along with planing their next move.

Why do poker players avert to bluffing? Can't they just play the game by the rules, fair and square? Well, to tell the truth poker wouldn't be POKER without a good bluff. Without it,the game will become very dull and played only by good mathematicians, calculating their odds of winning a hand. It will just be a simple luck game where bets are placed accordingly to the “win – lose” chance, and the player having the best card combination will win. There isn't anything wrong with that (if you are a very good mathematician), but try doing it non-stop... Most certainly it will become a burden rather than a source of entertainment - winning money along the way.

More than giving variety and excitement during play, there are other significant assets that come from bluffing in poker games. When playing low limit competitions bluffing is often used for the simple reason that there is little to lose if no one among your opponents believes your bluff. But with the stakes being low also the chance of being called is greater. Of course on the bright side, if your bluff proves to be effective, then you could have much to gain and of course - nothing to lose.

Yet, when the stakes are high, a good, planned in advance bluff can be a very effective tool. The higher the bet on your bluff is the more your opponent has to lose if he calls. When this is the case, bluffing becomes easily a big temptation especially if you win a pot or two using this strategy. This is where the good players distinct themselves from the amateurs. Knowing when to stop is key to playing successful poker and avoiding getting broke. Don't think that going “ALL IN” every time you feel like bluffing is going to win you the pot always. If there are any thinking creatures on the table with you, they will sooner or later figure out that you are in fact bluffing your way to riches and will stop your triumphant march to victory!

You should know that before even attempting to play poker you should always put on your "Poker Face" Bellow is an example of a bad and a good poker face:

When Use Bluffing???

If you are interested in employing bluffing as one of your strategies you first need to do a little research on what type of opponents you're up against. This is basically what sets the veteran from the rookie. The amateur will most likely believe each and every bluff that comes his way. The good player on the other hand, will more likely study the occurring events in the game, including other players' behaviour and the pot.

Well, surely bluffing should be used accordingly to your position in the game and the image you create amongst the others of yourself backed up with planning. Do you bet on every hand you get or do you play “by the book” and bet only on good hands?

1. Playing Like A “Maniac" - one of the advantages in being a “maniac” on the table is keeping your opponents alert at all time because no one knows what your next move might be. The looser your game is the easier for you is to “slow play”. Slow play is a bluffing technique that is used when you have a good hand and you want others to think that you don't so that you don't scare them off. This is done by just calling the bets of the other players and trying to make them think that you are considering folding your hand at any moment. Then when you get to the “River” (the final betting round) you would really want to bet or raise in order to get the most out of your hand (also trying not to intimidate the others with a too large bet so that they would call).




2. Playing it “Tight” - a tight player is a player who bets only on “good” hands and folds the “bad” ones. You could tell a tight player if he/she folds more oftenly when being raised than he/she calls. Advertising this type of image for yourself can be very profitable later in the game. When others think that you are betting only on good hands that puts you in a very strong position for bluffing or semi-bluffing. Having the reputation of a straightforward player could easily be used to fool even the more experienced players when betting on a weak hand – just don't overdo it! You want to keep your tight game image so don't let your mask be uncovered.



As I said before no poker is real poker unless you throw some bluffs in.

However! Choosing to use bluffing techniques simply as a way to manage through a particular round will almost certainly be largely ineffective. This is so because your opponents could sniff out the inconsistencies in your play, and sense your desperateness by the way you handle your cards. If they are veteran players, you would most surely have your bluff revealed.

Ultimately the key to successful bluffing is your ability to create a certain state of mind in your opponents. Your primary goal should be to make them feel secure in their game plays. Anyway, it will really always be up to your opponents whether or not they choose to call your bluff. In the end, it's all brought down to a mind game, where only the player with the better mental endurance will eventually come forward as the game's victor.