Common Poker Bluffs

Bluffing is a strategy often used in an attempt to convince fellow players that a hand is better than it actually is. A good bluff can intimidate players into folding potentially winning hands.  Some players become experts when bluffing in poker. Not only is poker bluffing an acceptable and successful strategy, it can be the most entertaining factor of the game itself. Player’s reputations are often based on their poker bluffing skills.

While most players tend to bluff with smaller pot limits at stake, some players find bluffing in poker an effective strategy when playing for larger stakes. Bluffing is commonly used to improvise for poor cards and is often most effective when there are fewer players at the table as the odds of a good hand are less than it would be with several players. Bluffing skills improve over time with practice and experience.

Bluffing in poker is no longer considered an art but a science and good players understand its logic is based on skilled planning and position in the game. Top players have learned the psychology of bluffing and can easily weed out the obvious bluffers. Players who successfully bluff in poker are expert at the following bluffing techniques; 

They study and get to know their opponents by observing player’s gestures, mannerisms, and  playing patterns. Sudden changes in these patterns are a likely indication of a bluff.

They understand that timing is a key factor in good poker bluffing and that bluffing should be used only occasionally at certain times during a game. It is not a good idea to bluff too often.

They always take their position into consideration. The betting sequence gives them a good indication of opponent’s hand types and they often take advantage of being the last player when others have checked and probably have poor hands.

They take into account the pot size and any potential risks involved. They always make certain that they can cover the pot in any given situation.

They can differentiate between “pure bluffing” and “semi-bluffing”. They use the pure bluffing   technique to bet or raise when they have a poor hand but pretend to have a good hand which, ideally, can cause the opponent to fold. They use the semi-bluffing technique to raise bets even when they have a potentially winning hand with chances of improving in future rounds. This type of bluff minimizes the player’s risks.

They do not bluff against new or weak players.

They know when to stop bluffing, especially if other players continue to call their bets, usually meaning they could have a good hand.

They typically bluff when the last card is dealt on the river, knowing that players with bad hands tend to fold by this time, leaving players with hands that are better or have more potential. 

In summary, the following bluffs are popular and often successfully used:

The Naked or / The out-and-out bluff
When a player has a bad hand with no potential and can only win if his opponent folds.

The Set-Up or / The Delayed Bluff
A well planned bluff which allows the player to steal the pot as it grows. It begins with the bluffer calling on a weak hand, and then if the opponent checks with a small bet, the bluffer comes back with a much larger bet.

The Positional Bluff
When a player uses their position to their advantage. Even when possessing a poor hand. For example, when the player is on the bottom and opponents have folded, a strong raise with any two cards can usually seal the win at this point, or even after the flop once all opponents have checked.

Slow-Playing or Anti-Betting
Used to make opponents think you have a weak hand by checking or under-betting a strong hand to induce bluffs and bets from weaker hands in order to bet large. Players using this “slow-play” bluffing technique often give their opponents chances to create better hands.

Lastly, players should be extra careful when bluffing in poker to not develop patterns that good players can easily spot and use to their advantage.