Bluffing in poker is an important part of the game.
In simple terms bluffing in poker is when a player feigns a move and also disguises his face against his desired or actual patterns, attracting his opponents to act in the desired manner.
To successfully bluff in poker, the bluffer must know the thoughts of other players in order to create a game plan to win.
Understanding and becoming aware of certain factors are very important in poker bluffing.
For examples, are the types of poker players on the table, the number of opponents on the table, the ability of the bluffer to read the movements of his opponents, the cards on the board after the flop, the image that has been created by the bluffer for himself at the table, the size of the pot already on the table and his position in the hand.
Below are the top 10 bluffing tips you need to know to master the art of bluffing, while reading I hope you enjoy it.
Choosy Hand
Winning with poker bluff requires you not to play all hand, and you must always save your bluff for the best chances of winning.
Most people cannot skip a ride, even when they get a bad one because they get bored when they fold.
They cannot wait for the next hand; they play anyway, and will eventually lead to loss of money.
Therefore, it will eventually be known by people if you never put money on the table without having four of a kind first, which leads to smaller pots on your winning hands because your opponents will fold certainly.
Don’t Go For the Crowd
To succeed in poker bluffing you have to bluff a maximum of two (2) players at a time. With many players active at the poker table, it is not likely to scare more than two.
To go against this rule will make an impassive player to call your bluff if he has a very good hand.
In most cases, pots with more than two players are not gainful to bluff since the more opponents you bet on, the less a player is ready to call.
Don’t Bluff Against Rookie
Don’t bluff when playing against bad or rookie players because these people normally call bets not minding the strength of their hand, they still don’t know what the game is all about and are happy to call bets with mediocre hands.
Rookie or bad players do not have the ability to fold, while good players first try to comprehend the strength it represents. Follow this rule even if you feel you have are very experienced.
The Successful Hand
Bluffing in poker should always be based on pot odds; always show a person’s attitude with a winning hand each time you bluff.
In some cases, a player plans to fold a minimum of one hand when he bluffs. But, you will be exposed if the bluff fails because there is no fold.
It is likely that a player won’t fold if there is more money in the pot since he has more to win playing while his bluff will fold more hands with a small pot.
However, a bluff shouldn’t be wasted on a large pot.
Low Stakes
To bluff is a good game plan that can be done when actually holding aces full of kings.
It can also be done if you had low stakes and a good hand, as it is a trick that engages your opponents, forcing them to add to the pot for you to end up with a bigger pot when all hope of winning is lost.
Always be on alert to the opponents who have folded already, because a player who is out of hand tends to record more emotions on his face. If a person folds an eight (8), it is easier for you to know since 2 eights are on the board.
In addition, if you notice that a player is angry, there is a greater chance of being able to bluff the remaining opponents in the hand and take the pot.
Set Limit to Bluffing
Well bluffing is a common poker game plan, it has long been necessary to be good at it.
Know the right time to bluff; it is a good game plan that should be launched by experienced players.
Most inexperienced players’ beliefs that to really become a good poker player, you need to bluff
This is false because it is possible to be a good poker player without bluffing for once.
Bluffing should be set to limit, it should be used when you are sure your opponent will be pressed to fold. Bluffing is not something you do because it has been long you have done it.
The Stronger Hand of the Opponent
Don’t bluff if all the signs show that your opponent has a stronger hand than you.
Semi- bluffing is a great idea if you can’t sit without doing something; this type of bluff is backed up by a decent poker hand.
Its works if you both have the same hand, and it is an aggressive move, it’s not that risky as a bluff.
If you made a big bet to avoid showdown and it happen you won’t be helpless.
The Same Drift
Bluff if your betting shows a constant drift.
For example, if you had a pre-flop in a game with 6-6, and the flop produced A Q 5 after getting a caller, it’s a sign of the best time to bluff because of the constant drift.
At the same time, it should be done carefully and not frequently during the course of the entire game, or you will be caught by your opponents that you were just bluffing.
The secret of an effective bluff is to make other players not to know that you are following a specific drift or that you are bluffing.
Represent your Previous Stake
If you missed the flop after pre-flopping with a good hand, it might be a good idea to repeat that stake.
In most cases, it’s a good time to bluff because better hands could still be made with subsequent cards.
Now, your opponents are aware that your bet pre-flopped the last time, and don’t know that you missed it.
If you represent your stake, pressure will be put on your opponents because they will have the suspicion that you now have something good than what you had.
Couple on the Board
Bluffing also works when there is a couple on the board; the reason is that your chances to hit a hand are lessen.
When you have two cards, and they are the same cards on the board, it means they are less of a flush chance {not of the same suit}, less of a straight possibility {unordered}, and that out there, there are only two other cards which could match them to make a set.
It could be that those two cards had not yet arrived, or either be buried (on a low pair, which people often fold lower cards pre-flop).
In this state, it’s like having two cards on the flop, and statistically, it means only a few numbers of people would have a drawing hand or have hit their hand.
Therefore, it’s a great opportunity to bluff.
The End Thought
Poker bluffing is an effective game plan, if you want to be good in it; you have to consider many factors.
At the same time, the paradox of bluffing is that if no one has ever caught you bluffing, you are not bluffing enough or you are one of the great bluffers.
You would be bluffing too often if you were caught almost anytime you bluff.
Late positioning and detecting weaknesses should be part of your bluffing plans and although they do not usually win a pot, they lessen it down to a few people.
Go Practice your new learned poker bluffing skills by playing a real poker game.