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Bluffing - Texas Hold Em Tips
Oct 08th, 2007
Jason | 
Bluffing is a skill everyone needs to understand before becoming a winning player in the game of poker. As a beginning player it is important to understand the concept of bluffing and the frequency you should be using the technique at the lower levels.
There are few things that can make a poker player smile bigger than executing a well-timed bluff. It is on television all the time on the WPT and WSOP broadcasts. Many newcomers to the game see the poker shows on TV and think that that is the way the game is really played. What they don't realize is that these shows are cut together to show the most exciting intense poker action to the viewing audience.
Bluffing can be defined as betting with a hand that you are pretty sure is not the best. The object of a bluff is to get your opponent to the fold the best hand. In a game like Hold ‘em, where the community cards can be used by all players, there are plenty of spots to bluff successfully.
Bluffing is definitely a big part of the game, but at the lower levels it should be used sparingly.
The fact is that at the lower levels there are many poor, inexperienced players who will call bets all the way to the river with just ace high. It is up to you to notice a player like this and make a note that you are not to bluff him.
Being able to bluff successfully depends on how well you know your opponents. Obviously you aren't going to bluff calling stations. You also do not want to bluff players who frequently bluff themselves. When these players check they generally have a hand too good to bluff, and may call you down with it.
River play can be a bit tricky when it comes to bluffing. If you bluff on the river it should be with the intention of making your opponent lay down a better hand than your own. Against a loose player or a calling station it is better to not even try it. You are usually better off just checking it down against one of these types of players because they are going to call you anyway.
When deciding whether to bluff or not, it is important to note your table image. How the other players in the game perceive you will usually dictate how often you can get away with a bluff. If you have had a string of good hands, none of which have gone to showdown, your opponents may perceive you as a loose player and be likely to call you down.
If you have a tight image, you may want to start bluffing a bit, but not too much. As we said, bluffing should be used sparingly at the lower levels. People tend to respect your bets when you have a tight image, so you will pick up a few pots when you don't have a hand. More importantly, when you do have a hand, your opponents will be more likely to pay you off.
This should provide a basic overview of bluffing when it comes to poker. Choose your spots wisely, and realize that at the lower levels many players are only playing their own hand and not thinking about what their opponents have. These are the opponents you shouldn't be bluffing. The tight players and the players that fold too much are the ones that you should be picking on with your bluffs. These are the players to steal from. | |
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