Bluffing in Poker

Bluffing has less value online, especially at the lower table limits, because the type of opponent you mainly encounter at that level either doesn't focus enough on their opponents actions or is too loose to fold to most bluffs. The purpose of bluffing is twofold, to win the pot without needing the best hand and to ensure you get action in the future by getting caught bluffing. Bluffing is considered by most professionals to be part of a successful well balanced strategy, making future moves harder to read.

Poker table position plays a huge part in the success of a bluff, a common situation to bluff from is middle and late position when everybody has folded around to you, with a clear preference for late position; the earlier your position when making a bluff, the more players the bluff has to get through in order to succeed and thus the less likely it is to work. An additional factor which makes bluffing from the latest position more appealing is you get to act after your opponents on subsequent betting rounds, furnishing you with extra information to base your decisions on.

Be inclined to bluff more against opposition that have proved they're able to laydown a hand and consider bluffing less frequently when playing at a table filled with loose players. This is not to say you can't bluff at a loose table, but you are more likely to be called than if making the same play against tighter opposition.

Bluff sizing is an important part of profitable bluff making. The general rule of thumb is to bet just enough to make your opponent fold; if your opponent will likely fold to a half pot sized bet on the river, there's very little value in making a bigger bluff bet.

Hand reading is an important poker skill and a vital tool for orchestrating a bluff. It is unrealistic to put an opponent on a specific hand, a more achievable goal being to put them on a range of hands and then sizing your bluff accordingly to give yourself the best chance of pulling off the bluff. If you suspect an opponent is more likely to have top pair then a busted draw, you will need to bet a larger amount then if you thought your opponent was more likely to have a busted draw.

Table image also plays its part in the execution of a bluff; if you're perceived as a tight player your bluffs look more creditable than if you are perceived as a loose maniac. The higher the table limit or buyin, the more your table image counts because the opposition are more likely to be studying you aswell as being able to laydown a good hand.