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Gambling Article
Bluffing
Bluffing is a very important part of poker and has to be included in your game if you want to be a successful poker player. It's crucial that you keep your opponents guessing about the strength of your hand at any given time. If you don't, you become predicable your opponents will always know what your actions at the table mean. You check when you have a weak hand and you bet or make a raise when you have a strong hand.
However, you have to remember to bluff with great care. It's a risky tactic that only should be used under the right circumstances. If you're timing is off you will pay dearly.
You might attempt a bluff when:
- Your table image is tight. If you've played conservatively throughout a bluff is more likely to succeed. The other players are likely to think that you're holding a strong hand when you bet, raise or re-raise.
- The cards on the board are unlikely to have helped any of the other players. The ideal is when there are no obvious draws on the board and there is a scare card you can represent.
- You're facing only one player. The risk of being called down by a single player is obviously lower than it would be in a multi-way pot. In addition, the pots are normally small and less desirable in these situations.
- You're convinced that none of the other players are holding strong cards. In these cases you have to rely on your ability to read your opponents. Be observant during the game and gather information about the other players.
- You're sitting in late position and it's checked to you. However, you still have to consider the pot size and the cards on the board in these situations.
- It's a small pot. This makes it less desirable and the other players are likely to fold if they're not holding really strong hands.
Refrain from bluffing when:
- It's a multi-way pot. Don't bluff when there are three or more players still in the hand. The risk that someone will call your bluff is too big in these situations.
- You're table image is loose. If you've been caught bluffing recently there is a big risk that your next attempt will fail as well.
- You're facing less skilled poker players. This kind of player will call with almost any hand and bluffing will consequently be useless.
- It's a big pot. This makes it very desirable and it will just take an average hand for a player to see the hand down.
- There are many possible draws on the board. Some player(s) hoping to make a strong hand will probably call your bluff.
