Random Tips For Bluffing
Below are just some random tips that I'm going to throw up for bluffing:
Let Their Thinking Lead You
A bluff is always more successful if you know what the opponent thinks you might have. Good players are trying to get a read on your hand and before the flop is even dealt, they already have a guess as to what range of hands you hold. If you work within this framework, and just show them what they already assume, you'll get them to fold more often. He thinks you called with a big hand, show him moves then that go along with that assumption. He thinks you called with a hand like JT or a small-mid pocket pair, play that way when a Ten high flop hits.
The opposite of this is also true: You'll get looked up more often if it doesn't add up. This is why it is hard for a tight player to bluff at some pots and not get called. The opponent thinks it's fishy that the flop connected with the tight player, and when it doesn't make sense, you get called. Along this same line of reasoning, a tight player has an easier time bluffing into a pot with an Ace or King on it. A loose player has an easier time bluffing into rag flops -- flops that are ten and below for example.
A major tip is to not base your bluffing and general play on what your opponents have seen from your that day, not in total. You're giving them a lot of credit if you think they know how you play. People have short memories and to a certain extent people play differently from day-to-day. What I mean by this is keep in mind your previous hands at that table since that is most likely what the opponents will be basing their views of you upon.
The art of bluffing - an in depth article...
Don't Bluff Multi-Play Pots
As a general rule, bluffs work better against fewer opponents. The more opponents, the greater chance someone has a strong hand (or any hand for that matter). The ideal amount of opponents to bluff into is one. This means that if you have lots of players left to act, it is less likely a pure bluff will work.
Bluff Calling Dangers
Say you get check raised on the flop by an aggressive player capable of bluffing in that spot. You need to consider more than if your hand is the best right now. You need to take into account how likely your hand will hold up after all the cards are out, unless you can apply enough pressure to end the hand right there. So if you plan on calling someone down, be careful because often with weak hands like Q-6-3 and you have 76, you can easily lose by the river still. You can make the right move and call his bluff, but still end up losing the hand later.
A lot of time cards is about black and white action, keeping your moves pure. Unfortunately as you get to bigger limits you'll find that most plays aren't straight forward and there is a lot of gray area or "play." In limit holdem, I'm not so concerned about someone representing a Queen in the above hand and pushing me off my 6. He can check raise me on the flop and bet it down, and I'm not going to die. In no limit though you're in deeper trouble. Picking off player's bluffs with weak hands is very hard, so if you are going to tangle in the situation above (76), then it might be best to find out early if he has the Queen or not, versus waiting to the turn and a big bet. Or, an equal option given the above, is to wait for a better spot.
Card Selection
If you are going to run a bluff prelop, I prefer to raise with cards that aren't likely to be dominated by a player who might call. I'd much rather run a bluff preflop with a hand like T8 or 76 than I would with a weak Ace or weak King. The main reason for this is you don't want to both connect with the flop and get stuck. The good thing about raising with a hand like 98 in no limit (occasionally) is because you'll get credit for a big flop -- Ace high, King high, etc -- and you'll connect well with a middle range flop. That can lead to some good opportunities. Secondly, when you raise with a crappy hand like 76 and you get played back at, it's easier to play well. Poker errors compound. When you're bluffing, sometimes spots were you have the least hand value are best because if you do get into trouble, the correct decision is easier. Sure Ace rag hands are statistically favored over others, but that doesn't take into account what will happen if you get action. If you get played with, chances are you're going to put yourself fin a situation that is very tough.
Bluffing And Bet Patterns
There are some basic patterns in poker that are very important to recoginize. What happens when I have a good hand, raise preflop and connect on the flop? There is a bet pattern there that is usually the same. What happens when I hit a big draw postflop? What happens when I hit a set or a really disguised monster? And what happens when other people do the same? This is important for succesful bluffing. To bluff well you want to keep everything under the radar because when anything seems out of the ordinary, good players become suspicous. And when I get suspicious of someone's play, I'm less likely to give them credit for a real hand.
Play Online Poker