Bluffing
A building block of getting better at
poker is deception. Bluffing is one of the most standard tricks in
poker but is also one of the most powerful. Of course, the reasoning
for a bluff is to trick the other players into thinking you have a
better hand when you actually do not (or not yet). Successful bluffs
work when everyone is convinced that you actually have that ‘good
hand’ you are representing. Too many starting players love the idea
of the bluff and end up bluffing at the wrong times and situations
and lose money to it. I am going to go into the different situations
of when you might want to bluff. Also keep this in mind on the
flipside when other players are trying to bluff you.
Before we get when to bluff,
please understand you should know how your opponents play before
bluffing a lot. Anticipating their reaction is
KEY to winning with bluffs.
Bluff Technique #1 Few Players
Remaining
When there are a few amount of people
in the pot it would make sense it is easier to fool the few amount
of people than if everyone was in the pot. With not so many people
in the pot, the likely hood that someone made a hand is smaller than
usual (which gives you a window of opportunity). Know what
types of
players are left in the hand, it is not smart to try to
bluff a maniac because they will usually call anything.
Bluff Technique #2 The Dealer
Pre-flop
If you are the dealer it is easy to
steal the blinds when most of the table has already folded. This is
usually best used with tight players to your left (because they will
fold unless they have a good hand). This technique can show some
promise once the flop comes, because your mediocre hand may hit the
flop and become the best hand.
Bluff Technique #3 Representing
Your Previous Bet
Let’s say you bet preflop with a
decent hand like AK but completely miss the flop. Sometimes it is
good to bluff at this point because you could still make a better
hand with cards to come. Most importantly everyone knows you bet
preflop and don’t know that you missed it. Representing your bet
will put pressure on the other players because they will think you
have something better than you actually have.
Bluff Technique #4 Flop Is
Horrible
Here comes the flop; 2 of hearts, 5
of spades, and 8 of diamonds… everyone is thinking the same thing
most likely, what a horrible flop! In this situation most players
won’t have much, and some will fold instantly to a bet because they
have crap. A solid bluff here could just take the whole pot, but be
warned! Someone’s shitty hand may be better than your shitty hand
and if they call you, you’re in trouble.
Bluff Technique #5 Late Position
and Sensing Weakness
This is another common bluff and
usually doesn’t win a pot but does narrow it down to a few people.
If you are on the button or in a late position and everyone is
checking to you, then it might be a good opportunity to take a stab
at the pot since your sensing weakness all around you. Be warned
though, many people slow play just because they hope someone will
bluff just like this.
Bluff Technique #6 The River
Many people chase hands down hoping
to catch their card, but what happens when the river comes and they
didn’t hit? Most people fall back to the logic of ‘the second you
know you can't win, get out of there’ (this works great of there was
an obvious flush draw that didn’t hit). Make sure your hand is at
least halfway decent though, like Ace high or maybe a low or mid
pair, otherwise you could be throwing away money to a shitty hand
that is just a little bit better than yours.
Bluff Technique #7 Playing verse
Tight Players
This type of bluff is really
searching for information from the tight players at your table.
Generally they will fold unless they got a really good hand. So if
you bluff and they call or raise, you should know its time to get
out of that hand. Remember to KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS! If you cant
anticipate what they are going to do, what’s the point of a bluff??
Bluff Technique #8 Pair on Board
The
main reason why bluffing when there is a pair on the board is
because there is a lower chance that someone hit a hand. Two cards
that are the same on the board mean, they are not ordered (less of a
straight possibility), not the same suit (less of a flush
possibility), and that there are only 2 other cards out there that
could match with them to make a set. Most likely those 2 cards are
either buried (especially if it is a low pair, people often fold
lower cards preflop) or have not come yet. This is almost like only
2 cards come on the flop which means statistically only a few amount
of people would have hit their hand, or have a drawing hand. This is
a great opportunity to bluff.
WARNING:
Bluffing too much or on every opportunity that comes up, will label
you as a chronic bluffer. This label will make people call your
bluffs more and more often and you will lose that edge, so bluff
sparingly. Also this can be great for you if you are changing your
table image (stop bluffing and raising strong only with good hands,
thus getting more calls because they think your bluffing)
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