Bluffer’s guide to bluffing

Author: Simon Dexter

Bluffing is an essential part of poker playing and it is a recognised fact that a poker strategy without bluffing is doomed to failure.However, although it is important to get the feel for any tournament or any table you are playing on and to assess the merits of other players, there are certain situations when it may not be a good time to attempt to bluff your way to victory.

Caught in the bluff

Having just been caught with your ‘pants down’ when failing with a bluff, then it is thought to be wise to sit tight for a while and avoid trying the same move again straight away. Although it can be tempting to try and regain some power, it may pay to play tight for a while and attempt to fool your opponents into forgetting about your mistake.

Blind man’s bluff

It is difficult to bluff from either of the blind positions unless of course everyone else has folded! As people know you have a vested interest in the hand it could be unwise to bluster your way through especially if someone in an early position has called or there he has been a raise.

Call my bluff

It is much more likely to be called by an inexperienced or novice player than someone who knows plenty about the game. The rookie poker player is more likely to want to see what you have got and will pay to find out. As in all bluffing strategies it is better to try and gauge the type of opponents you are playing in the early stages.

Bluffin’ loads of them

The more bodies at the table, the harder it is to bluff - simply because there is more of a statistical chance somebody will have a good hand. Bluffing becomes much more important in the later stages of a game with less people and bigger blinds and antes.

Curiously enough

It is dangerous to attempt a bluff if an ace comes down in the flop. More than likely someone will still be in with an ace – a card that is rarely folded pre-flop. It could be a similar case with a King or Queen especially if players have been allowed to limp in.

After losing a big hand

Having lost an important hand (even through no fault of your own), try to resist the temptation to win it all back the next time the cards are dealt by bluffing. Other players will be aware of somebody ‘on tilt’ and are more likely to call your plays.

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The art of bluffing is an essential part of any serious players game and unfortunately the only way to develop the skill is by trial and error – the above is simply a beginner’s guide. Used correctly, however, it is a most potent weapon.Ready to bluff? Join the action at littlewoodspoker.com

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 10th, 2007 at 7:31 am and is filed under Poker Tips.

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