Fair Poker

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Choosing When to Bluff

Bluffing is one of poker's distinguishing elements and it is an essential part of the game. To bluff an opponent is to intentionally misrepresent the hand you're holding. Players frequently bluff by presenting their hand as being stronger or weaker than it actually is, in an effort to encourage other players to bet or fold their hand. Players bluff by betting on cards that aren't truly "bet worthy," hoping to win the pot. And players also bluff by not betting on a strong hand, in hopes of check-raising later in the round--and winning a bigger pot.

When deciding on whether to try to bluff opponents out of a pot, consider these four factors:

1. The number of potential callers

2. Your position in the betting round (will someone else potentially raise you?)

3. How likely it is your bluff will actually induce all other opponents into folding Bluffing is also risky betting tactic.

To better understand the risk, consider three outcomes that can occur when you attempt to bluff an opponent into folding a hand that you suspect is stronger than your own:

1.Your opponent calls your bluff by calling your bet. Your bluff was unsuccessful in inducing your opponent to fold, and you most likely lose the hand.

2. Your opponent not only calls your bluff, but then reraises you back, forcing you to fold because you most likely have the weaker hand.

3. Your opponent folds to your bluff and you win the pot.

As you can see, two of the three outcomes of this bluff do not work in your favor. As a result, when playing poker in a home game, casino, or online, keep in mind these points when attempting to try and bluff your opponents:

*Bluffing works best when only two or three people are left in the pot and you are fairly sure your opponents have weak hands. If you try to bluff a pot with five or more players still in hand, you are unlikely to be successful as at least one, and maybe more than one player, has a decent hand and will be unlikely to fold.

*Bluffing works best in high-limit, no-limit, and pot-limit games. Bluffing seldom works in no-limit games where the betting limits are $5-$10 or less per round, because the risk is too low. With these low limits, people often pay to see all the cards. In addition, lower limit games attract less skilled players who frequently make betting decisions on feelings and intuition and not on the basis of whether the odds of making a hand justify calling a bet. These types of players are seldom bluffed out of a pot.

*Use bluffing sparingly--and only when you are reasonably assured it will pay off. The more you bluff, the more other players expect you to bluff, and the less effective bluffing becomes.

*The most favorable time to bluff is when you have what looks like a big hand on the board, such as three or four cards to a flush or a straight. By betting, you want you opponents to believe you have already made the best hand and fold. If you try to bluff with what looks to be a weak hand, opponents are apt to call your bluff.

If you are new to poker, it is best to have a healthy respect for the art of bluffing and be aware that it is a specific skill best used sparingly when just learning to play the game.

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