When to Bluff and When Not to

 

By gopoker.com, May 14, 2010

 

Understanding the concept of bluffing, and foremost when to bluff and when not to, is one of the basics of the game and it need to be part of your strategy. 

 

 

What Does it Mean to Bluff in Poker

Bluffing is one of the key elements in poker strategy and also what adds great excitement to the game. Let's face it, if all players in each game knew each other's cards, and the best hand won each time, how fun would it be? Facts remain, poker is a game of skills and where lady luck have a very small part making the game an imperfect game, as incomplete information makes it possible to win by convincing other players that you have the best hand, and making other players believe that you do, successfully, is bluffing in poker.

 

While it's a topic that can be widely discussed, bluffing is in its simplest form to bet or raise when holding a weak and inferior hand, and where bluffing is an essential skill to any poker player, and it’s important to understand how and when to bluff if you want to become a profitable player.

 

Winning is easy, if dealt aces every hand, but as the odds are against that, you'll need to master the skill of winning even with weak and inferior cards, the making of a winning and profitable player.

 

However, bluffing too much and in situations where other players read your bluff, you'll be a losing player, hence bluffing in the right situations is vital to your game and bankroll.

 

 

The Basic Bluffs in Poker

In general there are two types of bluffs, straight bluff and semi bluff, and used correctly good players switch between the two dependent on opponents and game.

 

Straight Bluff

Making a straight (unmixed, pure) bluff the player bets or raises with a hand that has little or no chance of improving, hence a bad hand is a just that. For instance in a five card draw game, a player with nothing but a king high and raises, the players is hoping everyone will fold.

 

Semi Bluff

Semi bluff (mixed) is when a player bets on a hand that holds a good chance of improving, but at the time of the bluff it's probably not the best hand. For instance if a player holds four cards to a straight or flush in Texas Hold’em on the flop and bets, that is known as a semi bluff.

 

 

When to Bluff and When Not to

Implementing bluffing as part of one's strategy many players commonly make the mistake thinking that bluffing can be made on every second or third hand, pretending that one is holding a monster hand, no matter what cards one is holding, and not reading the other players (forming an opinion of their cards).

 

On one hand it qualifies as bluffing, as the player is attempting to "show" a bigger hand than he or she has. However if you don’t pay attention to the other players and use a selective approach and bluff strategy, bluffing can quickly reduce your bankroll. While bluffing is a key skill to learn and master, it is not a go-ahead or rule of poker. Poker is not about winning pots, poker is about winning money, hence use bluffing selective.

 

So when is a good time to bluff, and when not to? In brief there are some guidelines one can follow, that if used correctly, will increase your odds...

 

 

When to Bluff...

When you are in late position and no player before you is representing a strong hand.

 

When the board cards or cards you are holding make it possible for you to represent a strong hand.

 

When you through your game play have established yourself as a tight player.

 

When the other players' tells and sense give you the opinion that they are weak and will fold to a bet or raise.

 

When you are facing only one opponent.

 

 

When Not to Bluff...

When you know a player still in the hand is the type that never folds.

 

When a player holds enough money in the pot, and where your raise or bet will not be enough to force him out of the game (fold).

 

When there are still many players in the hand.