Bluffing at Texas Hold'Em Poker

Poker Bluffing to Win Money

In poker it's not only what's in your hand that counts, but also what people think is in your hand. Bluffing at Poker is commonly misconceived as a great tactic to win loads of money. If you are under this impression then think again, life isn't that easy and good poker is often harder.However, when used correctly, a poker player can use bluffing to their advantage and rake in some nice pots at the same time. Having an awful poker hand and walking away with a decent pot is about as sweet as it gets. When bluffing at the proper frequency not only do you gain by forcing opponents to fold winning hands but also you create an element of disguise with your legitimate hands. 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.

Optimum Bluffing Frequency

You bluff when you have no chance of winning the pot or when you are trying to steal the pot before all the cards are dealt. In a cash game, it is possible to calculate whether a bluff will be profitable or not. What is the right bluffing frequency? It is a frequency that makes it impossible for your opponents to know whether to call or fold. Mathematically, optimal bluffing strategy is to bluff in such a way that the chances against your bluffing are identical to the pot odds your opponent is getting. Thus, if, as in the example just given, an opponent is getting 6-to-1 from the pot, the chances against your bluffing should be 6-to-1. Then that opponent would break even on the last bet by calling every time and also by folding every time. As you will find there are good times to bluff and bad times but here are a few simple rules that should help you along your way:

Don't:

Bluff bad/loose players. Bad players don't necessarily know when they are beaten. This kind of player will call with almost any hand and bluffing will consequently be useless.

Don't expect bluffs to work in low limit Hold'em. If the cost to see your cards is not significant, why should your bet (or raise) keep anyone from paying to see them?


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.

There are many possible draws on the board. Some player(s) hoping to make a strong hand will probably call your bluff.

Don't:

If you are sitting in late position, you will usually have more access to information regarding your opponents' hands and, thus, will be in a better situation to bluff, for example: You're sitting in late position and it's checked to you. However, this is a 'typical' bluffing situation. It can be used to your advantage, but veteran players may recognize the play and use it against you.

Bluff when the board says "someone" might have made a good hand. An example is when the third of a suit hits the board. "Someone" might have a flush. If you bet as if you have the flush, the other players may believe you do.

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.

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.

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.

Bluffing is something that is done between players, so the more you know your opponent's habits the better. If a player is a 'calling station' and always calls bet so they can get to the next card or see the showdown, don't bother trying to bluff them.

If players have caught you bluffing recently, they will remember it. If you try to bluff again too soon do not be surprised if someone calls you, just to 'keep you honest'. Of course this can be used to your advantage. If you find yourself with good cards right after being caught bluffing, you are more likely to have players call your bets, rewarding you with a bigger pot.

Bluffing is an art, and it spices up the game of poker. Make bluffing a part of your arsenal, but not your only weapon at the poker table.

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