Online Poker: The Big Bluff

Everybody knows that one of the most important plays in Poker is bluffing. Of course the quality of your hand is essential for you to win but bluffing can also reap you the rewards when you have little or no hand. The question is, can you bluff?

Bluffing a top poker professional is not easy. The players are used to bluffers and have mastered the art themselves. They’re used to players bluffing because they do it too with relative ease. If you can master this fine art, you are on your way to becoming a top poker competitor.

Bluffing is very dramatic in a live poker game. You can feel the intensity even if you are just spectating. The players who are the best bluffers will be composed, unafraid and thrive on the ultimate gamble. You may even find the top poker professionals wearing dark glasses to hide any intimidation. It’s the eyes that give the poker game away you see. There is nothing more rewarding than winning a pot on a bluff when the player has absolutely nothing.

If you are keen on reaching a high standard then you must learn the basic art of bluffing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not something you can learn from a text book, experience counts for a great deal but you will have to start somewhere.

Being an excellent, renowned bluffer in poker has many advantages, not just because you can win hands with nothing, but when you do have a great hand you will find your fellow players will risk more money thinking you are bluffing, increasing the pot with more money to be won. Of course on that occasion it wouldn’t have been a bluff but in some ways it is because you have made your fellow players insecure, they wouldn’t know which way to turn and probably fold. The best poker players in the world who always win will frighten off other players. Strength, will and just the overall gamble are essential.

Bluffing on the Internet

Bluffing is very important in a live game tournament or casino but playing poker online you will find it isn’t really important unless you are playing for high stakes and with players you know and who know you.

Online players play multiple tables when playing with low stakes. These will be very fast games with an average pot of around £20. They will join one, play a few hands, join another, of even play three or four tables at once. You would be constantly playing against different players. There isn’t much time to bluff and even if you did nobody would care. They just hope for the best hand and fold if not. When bluffing you need players to pick up on your behaviour and make them feel intimidated. This isn’t going to happen because the turn around of players per game is vast. For example, you have just bluffed a pot and feel brilliant, next hand there are 5 different players sitting at the table oblivious to the stunt you just pulled.

Online bluffing does happen quite frequently though but not for what you would think. It’s more of a case of playing blind and not really caring about the hand. It’s a virtual game, nobody can see you or feel your intimidation or see your eyes. All they need to do is push a button and place their bet with not that much at risk. Players who play low limit pots in poker just bet on anything and hope for the best, but if everybody is doing this then where is the fun? It’s just a case of trying to pick up a few winnings. I would stay clear of poker tables where players are doing this. Play where you have decent players, you will gain their respect and they will remember you. If you improve your bluffing tactics then in the long term you will win a lot more money than you would in low stake games.

When playing high limit games, try and keep your fellow players honest. This is a lot easier to do over the Internet than on a live game. The art to this is by bluffing at the right time and not on every hand. Players won’t have respect for you and will see straight through you. Some players will bluff a lot more to increase the pot. This only gives the casino a higher rake. Choose your bluff wisely and you will win more hands. Don’t be predictable. You need to force players out of the game, not encourage them to bet. It’s every man for him self then and nobody wins in the end.

Bluffing tips

The following tips are essential for bluffing in poker:

  • Choose the games wisely and note the player’s names
  • Play high limit games
  • Avoid games where it seems all the players are bluffing
  • Concentrate
  • Bluff wisely and not frequently
  • Keep the players honest
  • Try and play with the same players
  • Take your time when bluffing
  • Compose yourself and don’t get complacent
  • Gain some experience first