How to Bluff in Poker

The bluff is most likely the most talked-about poker concept, although it is not used as often as people believe. Still, to keep out bluffing from poker would result in an uninteresting game: If you never bluff you become very predictable and will not be able to maximize your winnings, much less win at all.

You in fact bluff when you have no chance of winning the pot or when you are trying to steal the pot before all the cards are dealt. In a cash match, it is possible to calculate whether a bluff will be profitable or not. To do this, you just compare the odds of making a successful bluff to the size of the bet and the size of the pot.

Consequently, an important skill is the ability to determine the likelihood that your opponents will fold.

Some factors to consider when deciding whether to bluff or not follow:-

1. Type of opponent
2. Your table image
3. Number of opponents

Do not ever bluff weak opponents who call with anything (referred to as "calling stations"). This is the most general mistake. Be always sure that your opponent is a good enough player to fold a hand.

A bluff is less probable to succeed if you have a loose table image rather than a tight one. If you were only just caught bluffing, your opponents will be more likely to call you in the future, though reverse psychology can occasionally prove beneficial in such situations. As an example, if a good player caught you bluffing and he regards you as a good player, he might think you would not dare bluff him again.

Generally, do not bluff a field of three or more players, especially not in Limit poker. A bluff is to be expected to succeed against one opponent, not only because it is just one player but also because the pot is usually smaller, which makes it less desirable.