Poker Bluffing For Beginners

We’ve all heard of someone having a poker face. According to the Urban Dictionary, the definition of a poker face is, “A face on a person that shows no emotion, often called poker face because in the game of poker it would be foolish to show any emotional traits that might screw the game for you.”

It’s all part of bluffing in one of the most popular card games in the world. An inscrutable expression which conveys nothing about the hand you hold to your opponents. If the hand is weak, the player may try to make it appear stronger in an effort to get opponents to throw in their cards. If it’s strong, trying to give the impression it’s weak, hoping to keep opponents playing and increasing the pot. So how do you make a bluff work for you?

Areas to Consider About Bluffing:

Although many non-players believe poker is a game all about bluff, nothing could be further from the truth. Knowing your opponents is paramount, the image you personally convey, the hands betting history, your own position, the size of the bet, and the strength of your own hand are the important aspects of poker.

Pick Your Opponents:

It is possible to bluff against a full line-up of players. However, the bluff tends to be more successful against a single player, provided you’ve picked the right one. The right one, surprisingly enough is usually an experienced player. New to the game players tend to play with the eyes, they know what they hold, and aren’t bothered about anything else.

Image Makes a Difference:

How your opponents see you will have a large bearing on whether your bluff succeeds. If you’re perceived as a strong player, an astute player; when you play a bluff, you are more likely to be successful. If you’re considered a chancer, betting erratically, your bluff is more likely to be called.

Betting on the River:

Take note of the flow of betting on a hand. If opponents see you’ve been betting strongly throughout, they may well accept your bluff on a river card. However, if your betting is tight throughout, they will assume you’ve no hand. Trying to bluff the river card is likely to see you being called.

There’s Nothing Like Experience:

The whole poker experience can seem daunting to a new player, but it needn’t be. Play initially to the strength of your own hand and keep bluffing to a minimum. You don’t have to bluff to win at poker. Watch the more experienced players. When they win a pot on a bluff, remember how they played their hand. When they lose one, remember why. Practise makes perfect. Who knows – in a couple of years you could be playing in the World Series of Poker Online.