Does everybody bluff?

I have been playing nlhe about 8 mths now. I stick to the .05/.10 ring games and have had my ups and downs. I have noticed that if I stick to my general if you dont have the nuts don't call it and I do end up winning but very slowly. I also have folded alot of winning hands due to playing too safe. My question is, does the average player chase as in calling or shove it like you have it even when you don't?

I would never dream of bluffing

I definately never bluff, I am wondering if that is my problem, lol

In Negreanu's first book, it says that one of the big mistakes that ametures make(.5/.10) is bluffing too much. Yes, a lot of people do it with out you knowing, ecspecially if you are really tight(a rock) like you say you are.

It takes a lot of learning, experience, and reading skills(online-taking notes/paying attention) to make good bluffs, but if you watch some of the vids that zach and chuck have you'll see some nice spots of stealing or (bluffing?) i think

Also when I make a bluff it is because I think/know I can get them off the heand to make a small pot....mainly because the range I put them onm....If they raise preflop I could pu them on the range of AK-A0...so if nothing like that hits im betting./...understand?

You don't have to shove to bluff. Try situational bluffs sized like valuebets.

I've found that you need a specific reason to believe your bluff will work.

A lot of people will call you down, which is great when you have a band, but sucks when you don't.

Basically, you want to bluff a smart player, when it's consistent with your story.

Thank you guys and curtis Yes that makes sense, I do tend to watch for the maniac tracking what they have and hit when time is right but that is only after the all in 50 times. If I make the effort to really pay attention to all players when and how much they bet I think I can get better reads. I will check out those vids. tyvm

Yes savage it's the call I am scared of which is why I just opt not too. I know that sounds stupid and then why play. I just love the game, lol

OMG i didn't spam in this thread.......dammit....i did it again

Bluffing at 10NL is pretty much pointless, wait until you're at at least 50NL before you try running bluffs. Even then don't worry about it much.

No real point in running big multi-street bluffs at those limits, but position steals and flop cbets when you miss can win a lot of pots (and money).

Low stake games are hard to bluff in. Cbets work but you have to mix it up. Position is the thing to consider. It's hard to get most people at lltables off a hand.

if you dont bluff you aren't winning enough.. most people overbluff or underbluff -- have to find the right mix and the right time

lmao

See like I said these cash game players got some tricks so watch there vids! (not directed to you zach, just using the quote )

I bluff only once and a while and usually have a good draw incase im called

NLHE is an art. And one of the tools the artist uses is the bluff. Without the bluff it's like trying to draw the Mona Lisa with a box of crayons.It can be done but only by the very best.

i bluff rarely, but when i do i have a good feel about it, what about trying your bluff in play money games or freerolls, you can always start with the semi bluff - a running hand, for the most part if the odds are with you, a good player will catch on and probably back off, but the maniacs or idiiots won't. just some ideas i'm not a pro, but i feel i'm catching on.

If you start with a decent hand and flop nothing, or rainbow no face cards, it's almost inevitible that you'd need to bluff depending on how your table plays.

your never gonna win big if you never bluff
I mean you should not bluff more than bluff but you can't just go forever and never bluff

my advice would be slow play good hands and when you have a decent hand after the flop with no hit bet a little and see if they bite

its much more harder to bluff at low stakes. much much more. people have money who cares about some cents or dolars. they call or chase. i remember myself bullying 1 dolar sit goes with all ins. but bluffing is crucial. i bluff about % 10 of time with sucess rate a little more than % 50 and it seems thats not enough and successful. also sometimes you (i) should play crap hands like j4 or 38 just not to give an incredible tight player view. otherwise people starts to bluff on you more.

I do bluff on occasion. But it really depends on who's playing, position and other factors. But I'm fairly successful when I do. I think position is the key for me!

Thats true, and at low stakes just wait for good hand

From my experience at the low stakes tables, most people rarely bluff... The people who are the regulars at the table that you see everyday playing, or the people that you see playing at multiple tables almost never bluff. However, in the really micro stakes tournaments or sit and go, people definitely bluff all the time.

Bluffing is part of the game, if your not bluffing sometimes then your not playing poker... You need to know when to bluff though

From my general experience, people seem to play like they see on t.v. They are too loose and think they have to bluff a lot. they don't understand that the pro's get where they are due to patience and good decision making. If your style is working for you stick to it.

I don't bluff a lot, only when I really feel that I can take the pot.
And I don't shove, I see what amount will get the player out of the hand.

yea everybodys bluffed.. some just do it more than others..

I think that "bluffing" is a huge part of the game.
Its knowing when to bluff by whats on the board and what you
"think" your opponent has .. like say Q high..and you know..
your 8 high will never take down the pot..so..BET..
hey..nice "bluff"

i bluff sometimes but it seems i am caught in a bluff more often than i should be. I say i steal the pot 70 percent of the time but the other 30 percent makes me cringe. I would think the average poker player bluffs sometimes. In my oppinion, bluffing is a big part of my game and when i know i can bluff my opponents at the table, then i believe i should do good at the one table. To me, it is all about reading each opponent and realizing which ones are stronger players and which are weak ones.

Please..Poker is not anything close to an art or a sport, its a card game. Its a pet peeve of mine when people do stuff like this, calling things and art because they are complicated. Its not an art. Its a card game and one of the decisions you can make is representing a hand when you don't have one. Nothing artistic about that.

Bluffs are all about timing and value for me. They are like icing on a cake. They help polish off someones game and can be the difference between an average player and a good one, but are too dangerous (for me at least) to use as a major part of my game. Picking up a few pots here and there that you would normally not win can be a big difference in how your session goes. But it all depends on the people you are playing with, and its harder to do (again for me) online than in person.

Bluffing I believe is a form of art. Position, table image, etc. etc. are all factors. It's at the right time with the right players that I do bluff. Very rarely do I get caught.

Good poker players are liars every now and again!!

Thanks for the description of art. Oh that's right , you said it doesn't exist.

Unrelated really to main topic, but everytime I read the title I think of "Everybody Poops" the little kids book.


But yeah, at low limits you dont see much bluffing unless you clearly have the maniacs marked that just love to bluff. In full ring just assume everyone has a monster, and you need a bigger monster to beat said monster.

Its #1 best!

Here's a little tidbit I fully believe.

If you don't really know how to play the game, or have the misfortune to sit down at a table where you are the worst player - EVERY bet you make is a bluff. But you are the only one who doesn't know it.