"Sometimes nothin' can be a real cool
hand" 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 the 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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