Bluffing

ConDeck

ConDeck

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This is such a broad question! Can you perhaps narrow it down? Ask something more specific? There is no "general rule" for bluffing other than make it believable, tell a story. It is not simply a case of "bluffing is a part of poker so I must bluff". Ask yourself why are you bluffing in the first place? If you cant justify it then why are you doing it?

I see a lot of players taking lines with bullshit hands that they are never making with a real hand, if your going to bluff have it planned out before hand, if this happens I will do this, if he checks her or bets here or this card comes etc. Board texture, chip stacks and your opponents range have a great dea to play!

It helps to be against at least semi skilled opponents too that can interpret the story your telling, that's why it is best not to bluff passive fish and calling stations, they are gonna call anyway!

The most common bluff I make would be 3betting and 4betting light, I am only sporadically bluffing in post flop play (with the exception of a standard c bet board permitting) and then only if the situation is right, HTH
 
PCK

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There are many articoles about bluffing,you should read some before you go on this road,could cost you entire tournament..
 
bossbran

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There are many articoles about bluffing,you should read some before you go on this road,could cost you entire tournament..

I agree with you.. bluffing is hard to master or what i mean is to level up your bluffing skills.. maybe ill focus first in my skills in winning tournament.. maybe you can do bluffing if your stack chips is very high, its like your chips is 10 to 15 is to 1 with you opponents..
 
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hffjd2000

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"Dont bluff a calling station/fish because they dont understand good bluffs."
 
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Tosh_67

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I'm terrible at bluffing I'm thinking It's possibly one of the last things a good poker player masters ? Having said that, I play freerolls and microstakes, when players gladly call my pocket rockets with crap like 64 off Trying to bluff is nigh on impossible...
 
JohnBoyWWFC

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At the micros, it's pretty simple - don't. Make a hand a value bet it.
 
debriz

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First thing to do, you must wait and get a premium hand then limp into aggressive player then you have more favorite to win that hand. Mostly doing these things has enough stack and the aggressive player will not shove all in to you, he's afraid too being called and if he notice you have a great hand he will start to slow play especially in the river. Okay therefore there is a showdown, if you get 3 or more showdown showing your premium or best hand, they might afraid and respect you. Remember dont show your hand for free or unnecesary, because they will suspect and think an idea why you show your hand? Thats a big matter of every poker player. They will think you have plan to bluff in the next hand or later. Now you can make a hard bluff without any trashed cards history of what you've been played any previous hand. Perfect time to bluff. Otherword.. "Timing"
 
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JVal

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bluffing online is different than bluffing live

online you just click a button then you can run around and do pushups and yell and scream and basically do whatever you want hoping you dont get called

live is much different obviously

you must not give off any tells

even the slightest of movements can tip a good player off

if youre confident enough you can give off reverse tells

basic tells 101: player that suddenly sits back and crosses his arms is a sign of strength

usually happens to an unsuspecting player when you take some time to think and look at him

he will get uncomfortable and lean back and cross his arms

its not done on purpose its how our bodies naturally react when we feel we have a good hand

next time you bluff try this when your opponent sizes you up

dont do it immediately just wait until he looks at you and its obvious hes trying to get a tell off you

do it against a semi-good player though a bad player wont even know youre giving off a tell

it will work a lot in low level games with aspiring pros but you will eventually get called and an astute player will see you bluffed and gave a reverse tell so you must adjust based on that

hope that helps good luck
 
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alexis8888

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For bluffing steel balls are required.
 
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sup3rh0t

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re-Raise on turn and definitely re-Raise or even All-in after the river - its very risky but most of the time works very well :)
 
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Sacredoro

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To not suck at poker, you need to stop making stone-cold bluffs, and limit the number of quick and semi bluffs you're making.
 
helpspb

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"Dont bluff a calling station/fish because they dont understand good bluffs."

Yea, I like this advice. Know who you're playing against because some players don't care about 'the story' you tell, they'll call you down no matter what. So be careful when and who you're trying to bluff.
 
Marcwantstowin

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My main advice for bluffing is - DONT DO IT, especially at low stakes or freerolls, your average opponent won't know how to read your play or understand it.

Gl in the future :D:D:D
 
BigCountryGB

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I think there is some room for bluffing in freerolls. When you get around the bubble you can occasionally bluff to steal blinds and bluff with air for a flop c-bet. However, you have to be ready to immediately lay your hand down if you get called. I will agree that most of the time if they call one bluff they are going to call on every street.
 
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rhombus

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If you have to bluff at the micros, its more about the players against the FISH, dont do it
only bluff the passive players if a card that appears hits your raneg and not your opponents
 
Santos 696

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Personally, I'm not a fan of bluffing , but sometimes this technique is very effective , use it wisely! And on account of advice - use the bluff depending on the situation )
 
StuffBarnaul

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Best tip for bluffing is: Bluff with a hand that can became monster and be in position
 
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subdylzep

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My lord this is a broad question. There are so many variables involved w every bluff in every different game. My main game is No limit holdem so i will give some tips just for that game and the various variables involved in each bluff situation. First off, your chip stack is going to matter a great deal in your bluff as well as your opponent(s) chip stack(s). If you are trying to bluff someone who is a low stack when blinds are high there isnt much chance of you getting away with it because they may already be pot committed. Secondly, if you have a low stack and are trying to bluff someone with a higher chip stack chances are they may just call you down to find out some information and are not scared of losing chips because they have more to play around with. Now that is just in tournament poker, so lets stick w that for a minute. Next, the way the hand is being played out is going to give you the best chance for a well played bluff. If you are betting straight out into a flush draw board, (i.e. 2 of the same suit on the flop) chances are people arent going to believe you when you try to represent that bluff. Now if you want to represent a bluff you may have to figure out how the hand is being played with the respected players in the hand. For example, are they checking on the flop w the flush draw? Are they trying to represent top pair on the flop? Did they raise preflop? all of the because factors when you are trying to represent a good bluff. Your best chance for a good bluff is going to represent itself when you can find a little bit of weakness from your opponent. First off, do not try to bluff in multiple player situations because chances are somebody made a hand or actually has the hand you are trying to represent, so try to be in isolation when making a bluff. If representing a flush for a bluff you are going to want to put yourself in the situation of how you would play this if you actually hand the hand. So like I said, they wont believe you if you are straight betting into a flush draw board. If you check call on the flop though, and you have an equal stack with your opponent, when the blinds arent too high relative to your chip stack you will have a good chance of getting away with a bluff. if you are in position or out of position has a great deal to do with it as well. So you are going to want to put yourself in that situation, how would you play the hand if you actually had it. Make sure that you try to trap if you are representing a flush, which btw is probably the easiest bluff to pull off. Now if you are trying to reprsent top pair right off the flop, think about what position you are in and what the top pair on the board is, if it is an ace you are going to have to of raised preflop most likely to represent the ace and get away w the bluff, maybe even a king, But if the top pair on the board is a 10 or an 8 you are going to want to have called a preflop raise or be out of position when you go to represent it. Now representation of a top pair on board is nearly a 2/3 or 2/5 pot size bet on the flop, so something like that would be your best chance of pulling off a bluff. If the opponent calls the flop though it make take more than one barrell to get them to fold. You will have to see if any over cards have hit the turn, but another solid 2/3 or even 3/4 pot size bet at this time is your best chance. If you get called a second time you may want to lay off because chances are the bluff isnt going to work unless you can put your opponent on a flush or straight draw, and if that is the case you are going to have to be aware of the river card and if it has compeleted any draws. If it looks like all draws missed and you are still ok w your top pair (or represnetation of top pair in this case) then you will want to bet again, however I would not continue to bet the same size fraction as the flop and turn becasue that is not how you would play the top pair. Instead make a value river bet becasue if they are on a draw they will have to fold anyways and if they actually hit an inside draw or something crazy that you havent seen then you will actually be saving chips. Now these are just some tips on bluffing a top pair and a flush draw in a NL holdem tournament situation. There are plenty more tips that can be given but obviously i have no time to write an entire book on this subject. Good luck with your future bluffs.
 
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subdylzep

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One huge thing i missed. Do not bluff on low stakes games, and do not bluff someone who is not a good player. Bad players can not be bluffed, they do not understand the game, so you might as well be playing with a toddler. This is the biggest thing to remember. When bluffing you must only bluff a good player and you must do it in a constructive way for the position on table, chip stack, size of the bets, time in the tournament, and relative to the blind levels (if in a tournament). This is the best advice I can give on this subject.
 
Syltan

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Use when cards are not present, and try not to bluff.
 
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NorskNewman

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I am a micros player : that said

As others have said. Only bluff tight players. If I am in position, and the tight player has Cbet the flop, checks or weak cbet the turn, I am choosing to bluff or not to bluff right then and there. No calling the weak bet on the turn and firing on the river .
Bluffing is telling a story to a decent-bad player who semi-knows what is going on. Do not be shocked when calling stations, fish, ect call you down each time you try and bluff.

All that digested, you don't need to bluff at the micros to win. Focus on getting maximum value out of your good hands.
 
FromHereOn

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Only bluff when you can tell a great story to a good audience.

Otherwise, prepare to be called down or re-popped.
 
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