Article: Bluffing Basics
Play Online Poker
Bluffing Basics
Adam Schiavone
One of the beauties of No-Limit Texas Hold Em' is that the game provides an opportunity to win, despite not having the best of it. Bluffing successfully as a tool to help you win is something of an art form in this game, and like any art, it must be practiced with precision and delicacy. There are ample opportunities to bluff, and to be worthwhile, good opportunities must be separated from the bad. My analysis is geared more towards live games, as tournament play is too varied in terms of structure to generalize when to bluff/when not to.
When To Bluff:
1) Scare-card weakness. Your opponent bets/calls a bet on the flop, and then checks when a draw-completing or board-pairing card arrives. Excellent opportunity to represent a big holding. In most NL cash games, a check as first to act in this spot is a sign of fear that you just "got there." Take advantage.
2) Facing a tight player. Versus a known rock, you can take more chances on buying pots than you would versus a loose maniac. Tighter players will be more fearful of the possible danger of the board, and less likely to call you with simply overcards or marginal holdings.
3) Garbage flops, limped pot. There are hands where the flop is a disconcerting mess such as 4-4-2 rainbow, and it is multiway-limped preflop, then checked around. It's very difficult for anyone to have hit a board like this, and often, Ace-high is miles ahead. The pot is just waiting to be picked up; take the initiative. No one's got anything, and everyone is waiting for an excuse to move onto the next hand - give it to them.
When Not To Bluff:
1) Lower-limit games. The lower the stakes you are playing, the more likely it is that players will call you in donkey-like fashion with overcards or backdoor draws. Don't try and bluff poor players for small amounts of money, they aren't good enough to fold. Your average $1-$2 NL cash game is probably your worst spot in which to bluff.
2) You possess a loose image. If the players think you are a madman, and continually playing poor hands, or if you have recently been caught bluffing, give it some time before you attempt another one. As stated above, it is considerably more likely you will get called.
3) Bets and callers in front of you. If you're attempting a bluff in a multi-way pot, it is ill-timed if there is any significant action before it's your turn. It would be foolish to think that a raise to 35 will scare off a bet of 10 with three callers on an A-10-5 board. Many players today have a perverse sense of logic that they are "committed" to hands, regardless of their strength. Too many will come along for the ride for this to be worth it.
In General, Remember These Tips:
- Don't bluff too small in relation to the pot. 1/4 of the pot size isn't getting anyone off of naked top pair, regardless of your image.
- Be willing to fire on multiple streets. Don't take a stab and then give up when you get called; you may need to make another play on the next street to convince your opponent that you have what you're representing.
- Don't try too often. Not every pot can be bought, unbelievably, there will be times when someone actually HAS something. Trying too frequently will lead to your developing a reputation, and getting called when you think you shouldn't.
Good luck to all at the tables, and may all your King-high missed flush draw moves be good ones!
Check Out More Poker All-In Articles
Send E-Mail to: alblmfld@hotmail.comThis page created using the webpage creation facilities of Webspawner.
Copyright © 2008 Alan Bloomfield. All Rights Reserved