Thursday, May 22, 2008

Tips for how to be a better poker bluffer

Tips for how to be a better poker bluffer


It is a well-known poker axiom that the person with the best hand does not always win. The player who knows how to bluff effectively can bring home just as much money in a night, even if they’re never dealt a pair-in-the-hole, big slick or any other worthy opening hand.

Here are some basic rules for the up-and-coming bluffer. Practice these skills and bust them out the next time you hit the felt!


  1. If there looks like there is a flush working on the table, bluff as if you have it. This is an easy one for you to get other players to buy into. Make a nice bet when the third of a suit is flopped.

  2. Bet big against indecision. If another player is looking wishy-washy, and seems like he needs a reason to fold, why not give him one with a BIG bet?

  3. Study your opposition. It only takes a few rounds to learn the general tendencies of your fellow players, and get a handle on how easy or difficult a target they will be for your bluffs.

  4. Don’t bluff with “loose players” still in the hand. If you know one guy who stays in until the end in the hope of pulling his hand on the river, there’s no way he’s going to fall victim to your bluff. Play with the tight players instead.

  5. Don’t bother bluffing in low-limit games. If the stakes are low, there’s less of a motivation to fold. Save your bluffing for the bigger money games where people genuinely have to make some tough decisions.

  6. Only bluff smart players! It may seem counter-intuitive, but frankly, dumb players don’t even realize when they’re being bluffed. And don’t you know they going to be the ones to get lucky on the river and beat you anyway.

  7. Bluff from one of the late positions on the table. This way, you can get a good handle on how other people feel about their hands before you jump in. Bluffing from an early position is too risky.

Now that you’ve got your bluffing strategy in order, invite everyone over for a game. Just don’t forget to visit www.pokerchest.com for an incredible selection of chips, tables, cards and other must-have poker accessories

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