Bluffing Basics

What is bluffing?

 

Bluffing is a strategy used to deceive or fool other players into thinking you have a better hand when you really don’t. In order to make the bluff work, you need the other players to think you actually have a better hand by betting or raising.

Bluffing should be done at the right time and done sparingly. It is recommended that only 20% of your bluffs should be successful. If for example, when you bluff you win 50% of the time, you probably have a very good image and need to do it more. Conversely, if only 10% of your bluffs work, then don’t do it as much.

Remember, everyone is looking for their own opportunity to bluff. Here are some reason why you shouldn’t bluff.

 

When Not to Bluff

 

When Player’s Expect You to Bluff: Such as when you were caught bluffing. Once a bluffer, always a bluffer so goes the saying and many players take notes and will look you up more often if you got caught, even once. Don’t stick you hand in the cookie jar until you rebuild your reputation as an honest player, then try to bluff later.

Against Too Many Players: The chances are that someone has a good hand and they will not let go, no matter what. Usually trying to bluff three or more players is not a good idea.

Against Bad/Fishy Players: Bad players have no idea what’s going on. They’ll call you regardless. Even a weak-ish hand such as top pair, some players will stubbornly never fold.

You lost a Series of Hands: Players will think you’re frustrated and are on a tilt.

Here are some situations where a typical bluff should be taken into consideration:

 

The Correct Time to Bluff

 

The First Hand at a Table: Players do not know you so they may give you the benefit of the doubt. Also, you can try to set yourself up with the image of a crazy player so you can play the rest of your session as an honest player (and get paid off). The whole idea here is that if you get caught it’s not a big deal and if you are successful you need to show for image purposes. Just make sure that if you do lose, do not lose too much.

 

Against Weak or Tight Players: Once you have a general idea of how your opponents play, your biggest targets would be pounding the weak and tight players who tend to fold too easily.

Few Players in the Pot: It’s easier to trick a few individuals (1-3) rather than a small group. Fewer hand out there, the chances of someone making a big hand are small.

Everyone has checked and you’re last to act:

As everybody has checked, they are generally quite weak. But betting when last to act is so common that players tend to call quite liberally or try to re-bluff themselves, so be aware. You may need to fire another barrel on the turn.

You Raised Preflop and Missed the Flop (from button): Let’s say that you’re holding an A J and raise preflop and get one caller from big blind the flop comes down K -8 -4 rainbow. You should be betting here a majority of the time since your opponent may still think your hand is strong because of your raise pre flop. Also this flop won’t hit most of your opponents ranges since there are no draws out there. Below is another example I dug out today:

***** Hand History for Game 644740631 ***** (Betfair)

$50.00 USD NL Texas Hold’em – Monday, February 01, 10:59:56 ET 2010

Table Gemini 49 (Real Money)

Seat 3 is the button

Seat 1: Mazaayub ( $60.76 USD )

Seat 2: BrasilNut ( $69.01 USD )

Seat 3: oleg555 ( $62.95 USD )

Seat 5: gnassus vk ( $76.76 USD )

Seat 6: Coriace89 ( $93.31 USD )

gnassus vk posts small blind [$0.25 USD].

Coriace89 posts big blind [$0.50 USD].

** Dealing down cards **

Dealt to BrasilNut [  Qh 8h ]

BrasilNut raises [$1.75 USD]

oleg555 calls [$1.75 USD]

gnassus vk folds

Coriace89 folds

** Dealing Flop ** [ 3d, 2s, Kc ]

BrasilNut bets [$3.18 USD]

oleg555 folds

BrasilNut wins $3.18 USD

BrasilNut wins $4.05 USD from main pot

Player’s Fear You: You have showdown some quality hands. They will think that you are a good honest player.

Squeezing: Let’s say you are in big blind and Middle Position raises and cut off and button call. Small Blind Folds. You have junk. You could raise here and take down all the dead money since it makes it very difficult for anybody to call/raise without a very big hand.

Here is squeezing illustrated:

***** Hand History for Game 641550375 ***** (Betfair)

$50.00 USD NL Texas Hold’em – Tuesday, January 26, 06:33:50 ET 2010

Table Neon 66 (Real Money)

Seat 1 is the button

Seat 1: BingoBingo ( $49.60 USD )

Seat 4: Doxa05 ( $35.10 USD )

Seat 5: BrasilNut ( $50.00 USD )

Seat 6: Montjeu 7 ( $0.00 USD )

Doxa05 posts small blind [$0.25 USD].

BrasilNut posts big blind [$0.50 USD].

** Dealing down cards **

Dealt to BrasilNut [  5s Ah ]

BingoBingo raises [$1.75 USD]

Doxa05 calls [$1.50 USD]

BrasilNut raises [$6.50 USD]

BingoBingo folds

Doxa05 folds

BrasilNut wins $5.25 USD

BrasilNut wins $5.25 USD from main pot

 

 

For more information on bluffing, take a look at a previous article written on this site.