How To Make A Good Bluff

[Pates]

So i'm sitting here bored out of my mind and decided to let you guys in on a bit of advice for making a good bluff.

Bluffing is a great way to ocasionally build your stack. You really should never go into a hand with the idea that you are going to bluff because a lot of what makes a good bluff is entirely circumstantial.

Know who you're against

This is pretty obvious. Don't go straight onto a table and bluff the first or second hand, if your AK misses or there are overs on your QQ, don't go stacking off trying to make a hero-bluff. You must know your table. A loose and aggressive table is obviously not one that should be bluffed at.

Stack Sizes

If you're playing a short stack be very careful. If you make a raise preflop and they flat call they might begin to committ themselves to the pot. Don't bluff someone who is committed, and watch out for reshoves from short stacks preflop. The only time when it is good to put pressure on short stacks is around the bubble aslong as you have noticed that they have tightened up.

Know When You're Beat

Bluffs can be very profitable and very costly. If you make a bluff on the flop by betting 75% of the pot and you get flat called, don't come out betting UTG again. Unless you put them on a draw or unless a scare card comes on the turn, they are likely to call your bluff again.

Don't Bluff Blind

What i mean by this is don't bluff any hand just because you're desperate for chips. I.e if a flop brings 3 flush cards and you don't have one of the draws then bluffing this at low/mid stakes is usually a bad idea as they will call you with a top pair or a high flush draw. If the board comes blank and there were raises preflop then it's worth taking a stab at, watch out for high card flops as a bluff there after a preflop raise might run you into a monster. However, it's definately worth representing a big hand by raising preflop and then raising an A high flop strong.

Know How Much To Bet

A lot of players especially beginners think that bluffing works if you bet rediculously big. Big bets are often seen as weak bets. If you have a good hand, why would you be pot betting or overbetting? Play the hand as if you had what you are trying to represent, going all in is usually a sure sign that you have trash unless your all in is quite obviously a realistic move with the pot being larger than your stack etc.

Don't Committ

If you get too carried away with trying to steal a pot, you can end up putting in far more of your stack than you should and find yourself getting odds to stack off with 7 high. Take a note of how many chips you have and bluff accordingly. Making money out of bluffing is only good when you know how to get away from them.

Take into account these rules and you should be able to bluff a lot more successfully!

Happy Bluffing

PlateFish

[Sofa King We Toddid]

You should mention double bluffing. A lot of players these days have clocked onto what people think is a bluff and so will check check check check all the way to the river then shove their nuts to make it look like a bluff. (obviously that is an extreme example but ya get mah drift)

[ProPokerStar]

i think also bluffing is about telling a story. You cant check down to the river then bluff big. Your previous actions should come into account would you play a big hand such as a set the same as youv layed down this bluff? If so then it is a good spot to bluff because your opponent will have to put you on a strong hand. Can you beat his hand ranges? But this is a very good thread thank you for this sir.

[PokerPirate]

Thanks PlateFish. A few things there i'll be taking into account for my next victim HAHA! :eek:

[Paoloo]

Thanks PlateFish.I really learnt a few things from you there!il def be working on decision making as far as bluffs go

[HeAvY]

im new to the game and there are a lot of helpful tips there. im sure i will remember some of them as i go along. thanks

[SPaMx182]

It is very tough to make good bluffs that wont ever get caught. Know your table, and pay attention to what everyone folds to.

[Litellio]

The Value Bet Bluff: (betting a small amount on the river to show strength to the point it looks like you want a call, can be effective in also getting people off a better hand if you value bet accidentally with 3rd pair, putting them on a draw, when they actually have second pair, and lay it down.)

NEVER DO THIS EVER at low stakes. I've found it only ever works on 20$+ tournaments. Lower than this and people just dont lay down hands, theyll call your value bet with A-high, even J-high once.

[foolsgold]

yes i agree with litello here, i crack it out once every now and then but you can only do it against a thinking player