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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.

The Ultimate Guide to Successful Poker Bluffing

Have you got a good poker face? Do know when to hold’em and when to fold’em. Here are a few simple pointers on bluffing in poker.

Bluff Believably

Make sure your bluffs are believable. Remember your opponents are trying to determine your hand strength and your decipher your play; if your bluff doesn’t make sense you’ll likely get caught and lose the pot. If you check pre-flop and flop but the suddenly raise on the river, it will be obvious that you are either bluffing or a weak player. Bluffing is most believable when you could potentially have a winning hand and no one knows you don’t. For example if a pair of Ace’s is on the table and you bluff opponents may think you have an ace in your hand giving you an intimidating 3 Ace’s. However if the community card pool is JH 2D 7S 8S and you suddenly start to raise when you get 3C on the river, it will be obvious you are bluffing because the best you could likely have is a pair.

Bluff To Win Pots

Often the best time to bluff is to save a pot gone bad. Say you have a heart in your hand and two more come down on the flop, you raise hoping for a flush. Your opponents call. On the turn you get another heart..you still have a shot at your flush on the river so you bet again, your opponent calls. On the river you get a diamond. You didn’t get your flush but your opponents doesn’t know that. Since you’ve been betting consistently it will be believable for you to try and take the pot now. If you bet with a weak hand your opponent will likely think you have a flush and fold the pot to you. Be careful to watch your opponents play as well in case he was also looking for the flush.

Bluff in Moderation

Last but not least, don’t over bluff. Bluffing is a powerful poker tool and should be used when it is needed, but don’t over do it.

Adopting the Perfect Poker Face

Being able to obscure your true emotions is a key part of playing poker successfully. Everyone has ‘tells’, or signs that give away what their intentions are. Being aware of your own tell-tale expressions and movements will help you mislead and mystify your opponents much more easily.

There are two approaches the thinking poker player can adopt. One is to remain absolutely stone-faced all the time, showing little or no emotion at whatever occurs in the game. This can be hard to maintain, as an element of relaxation is necessary to play well. Showing little or no reaction in this way is usually regarded as being the classic ‘poker face’.

An alternative approach is to be ebullient and lively, reacting clearly to everything that occurs. This way, you can mislead your opponents with displays of fake emotion. Harder to carry out, this strategy can be very effective, especially when used by a more experienced player.