Rakeback Planet

Key Poker Skills – Bluffing

Everyone who plays poker has heard of bluffing. Some players think of themselves as great bluffers, while others are sure that the slightest glance at the pot is enough to give them away. Either way, there are some bluffing basics to consider.

Bluffing in Poker: Tell a Good Story

If you have been checking the whole way and then suddenly throw in a large bet on the river when it is checked to you, you should not be surprised if you get called. The best bluffs are set up with play throughout the hand. If you bet on every street, a big river bluff is more likely to work than if you wait for the end.

On the other hand, if you’ve check called with two spades on the flop and another spade comes on the river, you may have a good bluffing opportunity, since many players will simply call along and try to hit their flush as cheaply as possible.

Bluffing in Poker: Set Up a Good Image

If you’ve been taking a shot at pot after pot all day long, your bluff is not likely to get the respect it deserves. On the other hand, if you’ve been playing quietly for an hour and always showing down big hands, it is much more likely that your opponents will give you credit for a monster when you bet big.

Bluffing in Poker: General Rules

In general, it’s important to remember that a bluff, like anything else in poker, should be done with forethought. Base all your actions, including bluffing, on your observations of the players at the table and the texture of the game and your chances of success will raise.