To appropriately explain my view point and strategy on bluffing, I would say bluffing is necessary to play profitable poker, and anyone who structures their game mainly around bluffing will not be profitable. That makes the decision as to when to bluff and when not to bluff more difficult. However when you figure out your places to effectively use your bluffing strategy it will be very profitable. As with any poker strategy position is very important to any move you make and position is also very crucial to bluffing.
My overall strategy is to be viewed as a tight, aggressive player, who doesn’t bluff. However, I do bluff so that makes it important to find the spots to bluff at where I likely won’t be called and my bluff will pay off and leave my opponent confident I had the best hand. I believe this to be the best over all impression you can establish of yourself at the poker table, and to be the most profitable strategy. If you do get called down and it is proven that you attempted and failed your stone bluff, the good part is you still for the most part play tight poker and when you do bet you should usually be respected, therefore if your failed bluff looses you some respect you might earn more callers the next time you do hit your hand. Basically this strategy is a win-win plan of action in your quest for playing profitable poker. Limited Time Offer – 35% bonus up to $210 Free at Absolute Poker – Enter Code AP35
You should always evaluate position when deciding to bluff, you will be bluffing much more in position (on or close to the button) then you will under the gun. However, also keep in mind people will respect your bet more when your acting early, making the ability to bluff early very profitable if you can put your opponents on hands good enough to all but rule out a raise behind you. In general you should evaluate four main things when deciding to bluff. The preparation of the right strategy for pkv poker games will offer the benefits to the poker players. The following of the rules and regulations is necessary to get the right results. The ability of the poker players is increasing with the right strategy.
- Your position
- What hands you have put your opponent(s) on
- Your Pot odds(see our section on evaluating pot odds for more info)
- Your opponents view point of what kind of player you are
If you have evaluated all the above and you like your position, you have your opponents on unlikely draws, over cards, or under pairs, you have decent pot odds, and your opponents view you as a tight player you should definitely bluff. If you aren’t quite 100% confident with bluffing and haven’t find out exactly when to take your shots at the pot a good place to start is only bluffing to your semi bluffs (read our pages about semi bluffing). In short semi bluffing is a bluff when you have a pot odds justified shot at drawing to the best hand, and a small chance of winning the pot then and there before you have hit anything. As a general strategy I would try to make 80% of your profit from playing poker from effectively betting your strong hands, and 20% from winning hands that you wouldn’t otherwise win if called to the river (bluffing).
The best way to develop your bluffing strategy and your places at taking shots at the pot is to play the game. Remember your bluffing strategy needs to support how you are viewed at the table by your opponents causing them to misplay your original strategy, which I would say should be tight and aggressive. To practice the best places to take shots I would recommend playing a lower limit poker game then your normal game allowing you to practice at a lower risk. Also playing a short handed game could be beneficial as well, you will get more chances to bluff short handed and it will allow you to strongly refine your bluffing strategy. Soon you will find places that you will be able to look at a $28 pot that cost you $4 to take a shot at giving you 12 to 1 odds that you will feel confident you will pick up 1 in 4 times. Once you get to this point you will have a very effective bluffing strategy.
Remember to evaluate your poker game as a whole think about if I was called down and lost, how would this change my opponents view point of me, and would this change in viewpoint make my normal playing strategy more or less profitable.