How to Bluff like a Pro

Poker is a game that needs a large heart. One must be willing to have losses a few times, and not lose his cool in the process. And, at other times, it demands the gambler to be ruthless. Bluffing to steal the pot from under the opponents’ noses is one such instance. But it is important to pick the hands to bluff on.

Simplest of the rules is to never bluff with more than two opponents. If one is going against more players, the statistical probability of his bluff being called is higher. A good player is always aware of the situation and part of picking the situation is checking how many opponents are in the pot.

Another important factor is the position. Being in a late position is always advantageous in poker. It allows one to see how others have reacted to the community cards turning up. If all of them have checked the pot or if someone has made a lame bet, it could be a good time to bluff.

But good players know when the opponents expect them to bluff. Pros sometimes avoid raising the pot in the late position just so they do not give an impression that they are bluffing. Equally, it is a bad idea to bluff against loose cannons and against weak players who are bad at reading the signs. 

One must remember that a bluff is made to make the opponents fold. If one can sense that the opponent is not going to fold, there is no point in bluffing. Equally, once a player has figured out that he is bust, it is best to fold rather than throw more money just because he is committed to the pot. Conversely, it may not be worth bluffing if the opponent is pot-committed.

Read this Bluffing is not just about a single hand, but about the whole game. It is important to hide information about how one bets and bluffs can act as a good tool to mix it up and keep the opponents guessing.