Playing card games is a common pastime for many. Some people play games, for the purpose of strengthening their mind as well. Everyone has a unique way of playing the game. Strategizing is an important facet of playing poker. One of the most commonly adopted strategies is bluffing. It must be noted that bluffing is a method of psychological gameplay and must not be confused of being an unfair practise.
Everyone has their own style of bluffing when it comes to playing online card games. However, it is more important to know how to bluff smartly. First and foremost bluffing is arithmetic, not intellectual. To win a skill based game, it is profitable to be unpredictable to the opponents. If you are planning to bluff in a game, you need to be absolutely clear about your game strategy.
While playing poker, being predictable is not what a poker player wants to be known for. A smart poker player will always randomize with different probabilities in every situation to keep the opponents unsure of their action. This is known as a “Mixed strategy” which works superlatively while playing poker cards. This strategy also involves many dramatic bluffs.
Want to know about bluffing at various points in poker? Go through the Article to understand and comprehend the art of bluffing in a game of poker by the means of commonly asked questions.
Is it possible to Bluff in a skill based game such as Poker?
Yes, Bluffing plays a major role in a skill based game such as poker but what separates a winner in these games is a smart bluff. You can’t just wait for the best cards in hand to win every time. Though, according to the rules of poker you calculate the chances of winning, considering it as a game of probability and act according to the hand strength. Professional players choose to bluff at their weakest hand and still make profit out of it by using the right bluffing techniques. In order to do this smartly, you should be able to read the opponent’s mind to predict their hand strength.
What factors should I keep in mind while Bluffing in Poker?
You should keep the following factors in your mind when you are up for bluffing.
- Your Position at the table.
- Your Chip stack in comparison to other players in the hand.
- Your table image (type of poker player that everyone at the table thinks about you).
- Table image of opponents in the hand.
- Hand/Betting history of the particular game.
What is the best time to Bluff?
Position specific: As Position is imperative for a bluff to be made hence, bluffing from an early or middle position such as UTG or UTG+1 is not advised. The best position to bluff is when you are in late positions such as cutoff, dealer button or small blind(SB) in the hand. In these spots, if the common action is “fold” in a pre-flop round, it is an ideal time to pressurize your opponents on the table by raising the bet.
Blinds specific: Raising the bet from blinds is also an adequate act to get the desired outcome, if players are only calling the minimum bet on pre-flop into the pot before you act. It is very important to figure out your opponent’s weakest hand in order to make a successful bluff. When players are just calling the minimum bet, it is also a sign of weak hand strength. This is exactly what you need to execute your skillful bluff.
Does size matter in bluffing?
The size of a bluff decides the benefits of a hand to the bluffer. The main objective of a bluff is to engender a fold, by at least one of the opponents holding a better hand. To achieve this you need to apply bet sizing and equity value ratios. Larger your bet size, more often can you bluff effectively. Smaller your bet size, less often can you bluff effectively. If you understand the ratios correctly, you will be able to bet in a balanced and unexploited range.
To suffice, while bluffing, if you know that you are not holding strong cards to win a hand, your objective should be to induce your opponent that you are holding really strong cards. Mastering the art of bluffing is privy to mastering the hands in poker. It feels dreadful when a bluff goes wrong, however, It is one of the best feelings when the bluff goes in your favor.
Master your bluffs & play smartly!
