Caution: After your bluff is called, do not try to bluff again for at least 20 minutes – so a player who saw that hand is less likely to remember it.

Bluffs can be categorized based on position. Using position when bluffing is essential to success. I thus recommend bluffing largely from late position.

The Late Position Bluff offers special advantages over bluffs from early and middle positions, as the late position player sees what the other positions do before he must act. For example, if a tight player has raised from an early position, and his raise is called by a middle position, don’t even consider trying to pull off a bluff. These players are likely committed to their hands.

Other Bluffing Tips From Late Position

• Observe how many opponents have called. It is much easier to bluff out one or two players than three or more.
• Note which opponents have bet or raised before you and what type of player he/she is. (Don’t try to bluff out a calling station.)
• Look at how many chips each opponent has. You cannot bluff out a player who has only a few chips in front of him.

Bluffing can also be evaluated by when you bluff in the course of the hand. Here are some thoughts on bluffing at each street.

Bluffing Before the Flop

• If the early and middle positions have all folded before you, consider making a late-position raise as a bluff. Steal the blinds.
• If an opponent who is particularly deceptive often raises, consider reraising him with a marginal hand or better. Chances are he is bluffing – and you have position over him. Very likely he will fold to your re-raise, or fold when you bet on the flop if he doesn’t catch a strong hand.
• If you bluff by raising from the hijack position after one or two limpers, the opponents behind you likely will fold; it’s a double-bet for them. Then, you become the “virtual button” for the rest of that hand, giving you a positional edge over the other players.
• If one of the blinds calls your bluff raise, he probably has a very good starting hand. Look for any tells he might display. Consider his playing traits before you decide whether to try another bluff on the turn.

READ ALSO: Top 3 Tips for Bluffing in No-Limit Hold’Em

After the Flop

• If everyone checks to you, your Late Position Bluff may very well induce them to fold. That’s especially the case if the flop brings small and medium cards to the board (no face cards with which opponents usually stay to see the flop) or a small pair with a small/medium third card. It is likely that the flop missed everyone. In that case, if the betting is checked to you, then your Late Position Bluff is very likely to force out the remaining players – leaving the pot for you. You win by default.
• If the flop is dangerous, stop and think. Examples: three cards in sequence, two or more of the same suit, two or more honor cards. With such “scare cards” falling on the flop, it is possible that an opponent has flopped a big hand or a big draw. In that case, your Late Position Bluff bet would force out only the weaker hands while a player with a strong hand remains in the pot. In fact, that player may raise if you bluff bet again on the turn. That could be costly. Be cautious; use your position to see what your opponents do before acting – and look for tells.

On the River

• If your bluff fails to connect by the river, all is not necessarily lost. Try to “read” your opponent for a reasonable guess of his range of hands. Your bluff on the river might be enough to force him out – leaving the pot to you. After all, he has no idea of the strength of your hand. And the pot odds are bound to be favorable at this point.

Bluffing is cool. There are no two ways about it. Running a huge triple barrel is a bizarre cocktail of nerve-wracking tension and hair raising excitement. Sure, it’s tense.

But nothing can replicate the nervous nausea and adrenaline rush experienced while your opponent’s deep in the tank.

• Your heart races, and your stomach turns.
• You wait, externally poker-faced but cringing internally.
• You watch as your nemesis’ hand wanders from their cards to their chips and then back again.

It’s a roller coaster that will end in either joy or heartache. And it’s one of the most beautiful things about poker.

It makes you feel alive.

That is unless they have the nuts, of course, in which case, bluffing sucks!

As satisfying as bluffing is, though, it’s way more critical to poker than people give it credit.  While it’s true that the game could work without it, it wouldn’t be the same game we know today. It simply couldn’t be.

To read the full article please visit 888poker Magazine: How to Bluff Better in 5 Easy Steps

The Fallacy That More Hands is Better

Many novices tend to focus upon volume in terms of the number of online poker hands they choose to play. The theory behind this approach is that statistics will remain on their side. However, this comes with a catch. The main hiccup with this strategy is that it can easily become exhausting to play optimal strategy at all times. You need to maintain tremendous discipline and play relatively strong holdings most of the time. It is wise to play fewer hands in order to avoid bleeding away what could very well be a rather modest virtual stack of chips.

Another point to mention involves endurance. From a psychological point of view, your senses and reaction times can become blunted if you play for too long. To put it simply, more is not necessarily better. It is instead prudent to play fewer hands and to embrace a more aggressive approach.

Understanding the Bluff

There is no doubt that some of the best players in the world have taken bluffing to the next level. While this talent can be considered an art form to a degree, it is also a science, in that there’s often mathematical calculation involved. This is when the term “semi-bluff” is important to appreciate. Semi-bluffing means that while you don’t have a complete trash hand, your hand is weak, yet nonetheless you attempt to bluff your way to a win. Even if you get called you still may have the chance of winning if you manage to catch the cards you need. Moreover, there are those who have managed to eke their way into winning a bad beat jackpot after first having attempted a semi bluff.

The best way to semi-bluff is to determine if your current hand has an out. In other words, this approach can often enable you to improve your holdings as the rounds progress. Examples include flush draws and straight draws. As many experienced players will attest, it is always good to have a backup plan if your bluff is called.

As the old saying goes, poker is a game that takes just a few minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master. The immense amount of strategies, nuances, and areas of study that need to be practiced can seem overwhelming. Even the best players in the world are still improving their own games. With that said, don’t despair, particularly if you are new to the game. Poker is just as much about the journey as it is about winning big. This is why the learning curve will naturally take a bit of time. And remember, the game is supposed to be fun at the end of the day.

The course is broken down into 6 modules, containing 6 PDFs of content, each between 1,200 and 1,600 words in length. Each module is broken down into a consistent and easy to understand format:

• Introduction
• When it works and why
• Who to do the bluff against
• 4 Example hands and analysis (2 good, 2 bad)
• Summary and tips
• Quiz link

Quizzes

True to form, Texas Hold’em Questions provides a quiz at the end of each module. It’s a practical way of ensuring that you are fully understanding the course material. Unlike the company’s continuation bet course, there are areas that get manually marked. I like this nice touch as it allows for personal feedback on answers that require you to enter your thoughts.

A mark of 70% is required to pass each module. Naturally, you can take the quizzes as much as you’d like but its advised you re-read course material before taking a quiz again. This has always proven to be a great way to learn and internalize new concepts.

Perfect for Beginners, Regs, ABC Players and TAGs

The Texas Hold’em Questions Bluffing course is great for those of you who are playing loads and maybe missing bluffing opportunities, need some mental exercise or even disregarding certain bluff types. When was the last time you successfully pulled off a river check raise? It’s also useful for standard ABC players at low stakes. Solid poker can help you win at low stakes but if you need that push to improve, this bluffing course might just be it. It’s also a great way to introduce calculating bluffing to new players as the format is language is very clear and easy to understand.

Pricing

The Texas Hold’em Questions Bluffing course is available for a one-time fee of $74.99 (10% off with our discount code: CPL). It was created with a target audience in mind of low- to mid-stakes players and is a “snap call”. If mastering just one of the bluffs the course covers helps your long-term win-rate, you’re investing wisely.

FREE Sample

Texas Hold’em Questions are offering a free snippet from one of the modules for those potentially interested in purchasing the course. All you need to do is email [email protected]. This will give you an idea of the content quality, writing style and what the course covers. Just say Robbie from Cardplayer Lifestyle sent you and remember to use our discount code CPL if you decide to purchase the course so you get 10% off.

Here’s a free introduction video too:

You are playing low-stakes limit Texas hold’em and raise preflop with A-K. Then, you bet into two opponents when the flop comes down: J-7-3. Not much there. Your bet – a semi-bluff – may cause an opponent to fold the best hand. And, even if he calls, you still have the river to catch an Ace or a King and win the pot. But, if your bet is raised, don’t hesitate to muck your hand. This advice would be sound whether playing live or online at a reliable casino site like Wunderino.

Should you bluff on the turn?

Krieger’s book asks the key question: “Should you bluff on the turn?” He offers five tips that can help you decide. I will comment on these and add a tip of my own.

• “Don’t bluff bad players.” To beat such a player, “you’re simply going to have to show down the best hand,” he explains.
  I would add: This includes calling-stations; once they have invested in a hand, they are almost certain to stay in the rest of the way.
• “Know your opponents. Will she release a hand, or will she call?” If you have been focusing on the game, you may have observed her actions on similar situations. If not, you can only guess. My advice: Always give full attention to the game; try to read your opponents.
• “Do you think your opponent is on the come? Will he release his hand if it does not improve on the turn?” Hopefully, you have been paying attention to learn his traits, so you know the answer. It helps to take good poker notes rather than depend on your memory.
• “How much money is in the pot? The larger the pot, the more likely someone will call.” It is  easier to bluff successfully when the pot is small. To that I would add: It is also easier to bluff out an opponent who is low in chips; just look how many stacks he has in front of him. Also, in low-limit games, you might use the Esther Bluff to make up for the small bet size. The Esther Bluff is playing with confidence (you KNOW you have a big hand!) while using a reverse tell.
• “Mentally review the hand’s play. Would your betting or raising pattern cause a good player to assume you have a big hand? If she doesn’t believe you hold a much better hand, don’t bluff.” Yes, poker is also a game of psychology. As noted above, play with confidence and use a reverse tell to convince your opponent to fold.

Let me add another tip:

Position is important. Being last to act (on the Button), you know how many opponents have bet or folded on the turn. If someone has raised and been called, don’t try to bluff. If three or more opponents have bet before you, don’t try to bluff. If you decide to call, be sure you have plenty of good outs – and hope the river is kind to you.

If you are in a middle position, look to your left to spot opponents’ tells to see if anyone is planning to bet (or raise) after you. How many chips did he gather up?

Also check out rec.poker/resources for all the partnerships and bonus RecPoker is offering. Specifically, Red Chip Poker is offering RecPoker listeners a free week of CORE by visiting Rechippoker.com and using the code “RECPOKER.”

Time Stamps

Obviously, you shouldn’t be trying to win every single hand, but taking down the pot when you are holding rags is both pleasurable and profitable, so it has to be a part of your game.

Essentially, there are two large groups of poker players: those who bluff way too much and those who don’t do it nearly enough. Both of these extremes are bad and will cause you to lose money in the long run. Like with most things in poker, you want to be somewhere in the middle.

Of course, this is easier said than done, and it takes a lot of experience and practice to recognize good bluffing spots. So, in this article, I will try to make finding that golden balance a bit easier for you.

1. Avoid no-equity bluffs

People love bluffing in poker and slamming their hand proudly on the table to show how they won the pot with just 6-high. While this may seem fun, making plays with hands that have little to no actual equity, can be very problematic, and is almost guaranteed to lose you money in the long run.

When you’re deciding whether to bluff or not, you’ll want to pick spots where you have at least some equity, for instance a gutshot straight draw, a couple of overcards, or at least a backdoor flush draw.

With these hands, you not only could win if your opponent folds, but you also have the chance to improve and win a big pot at showdown if called. While this may not seem like a big deal, it actually can make all the difference in the world.

All this isn’t to say that you should never bluff without additional equity, but you should stick to doing so in position and when you are the pre-flop raiser. In most other cases, try to pick some hands that have a chance to improve, and leave yourself more room for maneuvering on future streets.

2. Plan your bluffs ahead

If your plan is to try and bluff on the flop and “see what happens,” you’re probably better off not bluffing at all. The “let’s bet and hope” approach won’t get you very far.

When you’re deciding to pull a bluff, you need to think ahead about various possible scenarios. What happens when your opponent calls? Are there certain turn cards where you’ll want to slow down? When will you continue barreling? What if you get raised?

All of these are real possibilities, and you should be prepared for every single one of them before you put a single chip into the pot.

When you start bluffing on the flop, you should already have several scenarios developed in your head about how you get to the river. By thinking ahead, you’ll often find that some spots aren’t as good for bluffing as you might have thought at first, and it will save you a lot of money on the way.

3. Know when to pull back

Knowing when to take your foot off the gas pedal and save your chips is an important piece of an overall bluffing strategy. There’s no shame in giving up in a spot where you’re just not going to win. In fact, giving up in such scenarios is a rational decision that should involve no emotions; i.e., exactly how you should be thinking at the table.

Don’t worry about “looking bad” or “weak” if you give up. Just think about the most profitable action you can take at that moment. The fact that you’ve already invested chips in the pot does not mean a thing, and you should only concentrate on the current decision.

Therefore, if turn or river brings a card that is much better for your opponent and makes his range stronger, do not force yourself to continue betting. This might seem like a very straightforward tip, but many of my players get married to their hands and can’t stop bluffing even when they should.

On a more minor note, you should not try to bluff passive recreational players too much, since they are not going to fold as much as they should. You ought to adjust your strategy appropriately. Luckily, it is very easy to do that online with the help of poker software. In live games, just be sure you closely observe all the players at the table.

Most importantly, never rush to make the final decision. If you leave yourself enough time (within reason, of course), you will be able to think situations through and find many profitable spots for bluffing.

Just as in boxing, the poker One-Two Punch can be quite effective. Many skilled poker players use it as a significant part of their bluffing strategy whether they’re playing live in a brick and mortar poker room or online at US-facing sites or other internet poker rooms.

By the way, I have heard recreational players say that they “never bluff.” If that is indeed so, then I expect that they rarely enjoy a winning session – if ever. If they were smart, they would learn all the ins and outs about bluffing before going back to the casino to play whatever variety of poker they prefer. (Reference: The Art of Bluffing; contact [email protected])

I often use the One-Two Punch in limit Texas hold’em when I have have a strong drawing hand, especially on the turn followed by the river bet – if necessary. Here’s a typical example:

In a middle position, you stare down at QhJh in the hole. You pay to see the flop along with four opponents – no raises. The flop substantially improves your hand: 10h-8h-2c

The Big Blind (BB) opens the betting on the flop. The next two players muck their cards. Studying your hand, you have a draw to a big flush plus a draw to a Queen-high inside straight. That gives you 12 good outs (nine hearts + three nines – excluding the 9h which was already counted among the nine hearts). Any one of these would almost surely give you the winning hand. Using the 4-2 Rule, the card odds against connecting either on the turn or the river, are only 1.2-to-1. A quick glance at the pot, and it’s quite apparent that the pot odds are well in your favor – a Positive Expectation. With the turn and the river to come, calling the bet is an easy decision.

The turn is a blank, missing all of your outs. The BB bets out again. What do you know about this player? Having observed their playing during previous hands, you read them as a loose-aggressive player – certainly not tight. They have a wide range of possible hands.

What’s more, this is a perfect situation to use the One-Two Punch. Your “left-hand jab” – POW! – is a raise. It’s also a semi-bluff. You have a fairly good chance of connecting on the river. (The odds are less than 3-to-1 against you.) The other opponents muck their hands; so now, it is just you and the BB. If they decide to fold, the pot is yours. But, after some hesitation, they call your raise.

The river is another blank. Chances are it missed the BB too. They quickly check to you. Chances are that their hand will beat yours if you check back and have a showdown. (All you have is Q-high.) Now comes the second part of your poker One-Two Punch. Without hesitation, glance at your hole cards and bet out with confidence – POW! – using the Esther Bluff tactic to make your bet even more convincing that you have a powerful hand. Bingo! He folds – and you win a decent-size pot even without connecting. POW! POW!

Stealing

While the name obviously has a negative connotation, it is perfectly legal to steal while playing poker. Simply bet or raise; and, if all of the remaining players muck their cards, you have executed a successful steal.

Preflop

Before the flop, in a late position when everyone folds to you, be sure to glance at the players to your left, looking for tells. If no one is gathering a bunch of chips, preparing to raise, then your raise may win the blinds. It’s best to attempt this steal with a reasonable hand, in case the Big Blind decides to call. Even so, you gain a positional advantage. Unless he has a strong hand, he is bound to respect your raise and check to you on the flop. Then, you can decide whether to make a continuation-bet (c-bet) – and take the pot if he folds.

On the Flop

Stealing the pot on the flop depends on the community cards placed on the board. Whenever the flop brings only unsuited medium and small cards (no honor cards; i.e., A-A down to 10-10) or a small pair with a small/medium third card, chances are that the flop missed your opponents. If they all check to you, then your “steal-bet” – using the Esther Bluff – is almost certain to force them out; you win the pot. For more information on the Esther Bluff, I invite you to check out my books (see below).

A Special Situation

Let’s say you’re playing on one of the legal poker sites for New Jersey players. The flop includes a pair of honor cards plus a small card; and you are in a late position with few (if any) deceptive opponents. They have no idea what cards you have in the hole. The odds are heavily in your favor that an opponent does not have a hole-card matching the pair on the board; so your attempt to steal is favorable.

Check-Raising

Holding a monster, your goal is to build a big pot. From an early/middle position, start by checking – rather than betting. An opponent behind you makes the bet; several others call. Now you raise it up. Most likely they will all call your raise; and the pot grows…

Supposing you have earned a tight image, had you bet out rather than checked, most opponents would have folded. You can’t build a big pot in a limit game, if only one or two opponents pay to see the next card.

Trapping, Slow-Playing, and Sandbagging

These are three more tactics for building the pot when you expect to win it with your monster hand. Instead of forcing out your opponent:

• You would prefer that he bets or raises, as he is unaware of the strength of your hand
• Let him be the aggressor
• Let him think he has the best hand; little does he know that you have trapped him!

An aggressive opponent may even elect to try to bluff you out, all to the good…

(Ed. note: Plus, if you’re playing in a brick and mortar poker room, their reaction can be priceless once they realized they’ve been duped. )

My poker buddies accused me of sandbagging, but I couldn’t let that bother me. I had to prepare for the approaching storm

— Grown-Up Baby (@Prof_Hinkley) January 4, 2015

Holding a monster hand, slow-playing, and sandbagging tactics serve the same purpose. If your opponents check to you, just check along. An opponent bets or raises, just call. Show no aggressiveness. Unaware of the strength of your hand, he is prone to bet or raise, or even try to bluff you out. Just call. Meanwhile, take care not to offer any tells that could be cause for suspicion. Slow-play to trap your opponents in the hand – and build your pot. Sandbagging is similar; but you are planning to check-raise.

Position and Situation

In all varieties of Texas Hold’em, position is important to success in all forms of deception, including bluffing.

Examples:

From a middle/late position, preflop, if there is no raise before you, a bluff-raise may help you steal the blinds. If a limper does call, you likely will have gained the “virtual button” position, giving you a distinct edge.

On the other hand, some situations shout “Red Light!” For example, from a late position, usually it is best not to bluff after a bet by a tight player. Likewise, you usually shouldn’t consider bluffing after an opponent raises, as you are likely to be called. Exception: You hold a small pair or better; all the other opponents folded to his raise; and you know that he is a deceptive player – likely to be trying to bluff out his opponents. In that case, reraise as a semi-bluff. Even if he calls your bet, and you miss, your small pair may still be best…

Break-Even for Bluffing

Just like nobody visits an online casino expecting to win a huge jackpot, you shouldn’t expect to win all your bluffs. They’ll work often, but not all the time. There will be occasions when a bluffing target catches a strong hand.

What percentage of your bluffs must succeed for bluffing to be a profitable option? Based on limited analysis, if you win more than 40 percent of your bluffs, you are likely to be well ahead. Even in a low-limit game, a “smart bluffer” can win over 70 percent of his or her bluffs and steals. That’s highly profitable!

Image counts

Image – your opponents’ perception of how you play your hands – can make a big difference. Being highly selective as to starting hands, you are bound to have a tight image. Then, when you make a bluff, your opponents are more likely to believe you and muck their cards, surrendering the pot to you.

Table image is everything.

Playing lots of hands? Play tight for a stretch (with big value bets)

Folding non-stop? Play a few trash hands#pokertips

— TopPokerValue.com (@TopPokerValue) January 21, 2018

Nature of the Board

Poker players are inclined to favor high-ranking cards (Ace to ten). If the flop includes such a card, you are not likely to bluff out all of your opponents on the flop, so if you’re a relatively inexperienced player, it’s advisable not to try bluff in that case. On the other hand, a “dry flop” generally suggests a good opportunity to go for a bluff.

Another situation: An Ace falls on the board on the flop; you don’t have one. The betting is checked all around. The turn brings a blank; everyone checks to you. This might be a good opportunity to go for a bluff – using the Esther Bluff, of course.

Semi-Bluffing

As I say in my book, The Art of Bluffing, “Every winning player should have the semi-bluff strategy as part of his poker ‘arsenal’ and employ it when appropriate.”

The idea is to bet or raise using the Esther Bluff tactic when you do not yet hold a made hand, but have lots of good outs that could very well hit on the next card to give you a powerful hand – presumably the winning hand. Your opponents (the fewer, the better) might very well muck their cards, leaving the pot for you. If an opponent does call your bet, you can still catch one of your outs to gain the best hand and win the pot on the showdown.

In the third and final part of this series, we will focus on the other forms of deception, namely slow-playing, check-raising, trapping, and baiting your opponents.