The Winning Bluff

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Poker games are full of characters. First, there are the characters that appear as different cards and combinations that they produce in a cash game or tournament. The other group can be found at any poker table; they are the characters otherwise known as the other players. When the two types mix, you get a poker game that can result in the demise of some and the salvation of others. How you keep from demise and attain salvation has a lot to do with what type of characters you use to get ahead and stay ahead in poker. If you play to the characters seated at the table, then you will have to depend less on the characters provided by the dealer.

If you want to win your way to the top you are going to need to manipulate the other players at the table and bluffing is going to be your weapon of choice. But, before you start trying to fool these ‘characters’ around you there are a couple of things you need to understand.

Who Are You Bluffing?

Consider where you are before betting on your next lousy hand. There are several different Poker games you could play but you need to consider the ‘cast of characters’ at the table that you are playing to. You want your actions to read “fold” when you “stay”, and “stay” when you want the others to “fold”. Simply put, you need to think of the other players as actors and yourself as the director; if you do your job right you will be ‘directing’ their actions all-night and ‘directing ‘ their money into your pocket. This is what makes a successful player because “good cards” are not enough. The directors of the bluff will take home more money and win more tournaments because they had you coming when you should have been going.

Why Are You Bluffing?

Poker presents many opportunities to bluff because sometimes there are no good hands in the entire lot. In fact, a typical game of poker will produce more bad hands than good.  You need to learn the reasons why some bluffs will work and why others will not. Money and risk are what matter most.  The player who has more money and an aggressive risk tolerance will typically win more frequently.  Therefore, you should be prepared to assume more risk with less money and less risk with more money. You need to keep ahead of the game when you bluff, so get ready to act and adjust your strategy with each new risk you accept. You will also be more effective when you bluff if you find the right moment to take a position of power during a hand. Maintain that power position and even an opponent’s ‘good hand’ will fall to your bad hand.

Squirreling

Start with the cheapest bluffs that have the lowest risk in order to get a feel for how the players at the table will respond. Once you pack away some well-placed position bluffs, you can start squirreling away chips when others are ready to fold. You need to discover the value of as many players’ hand before committing any chips on a bad bet of your own. Bluffing is the ability to bet when you should fold.  Always, bet like you have the winning hand. The Squirrel bet is one that is placed after the first four players fold without calling the big blind. Place one bet plus the blind in the fifth position and you will begin to take more by winning regularly when you had no hand to start with. Small position bluffs are a great way to build your table position and capture chips that have no hand to go to. Be the first one to enter a hand and engage the other characters to play a supporting role to the Squirrel bluff.

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