The Winning Bluff

Pages 1 2

 

 

 

Capture Big Pots and Lose the Small Ones

A successful bluff may rely on a quick fold. Folding a poor hand comes naturally to a bluffer because when a bluff is called or re-raised, it shows that the other player wants to direct the action. Bluffs that do not get called or raised are the bluffs that make champions. Bluffing is not a gamble; it takes control of the hand to triumph over your opponents. When a bluff is met by another leading bet, retire the hand for another well placed bluff and save your money for when you have a better chance of getting the other players to fold.  This is what taking control looks like. Bluffing can be what gets you in a position to get people to ‘call’ hen you have the best hand. Set the stage then follow through. Find resistance and fold for a better opportunity to take easy money from characters that have a better hand but are not willing to take the risk.

Bluffing a Bluffer

The bluff, when used well, involves a low risk. When using position as a tool for success, the bluff can be easily folded when faced with a ‘continued call’ or a ‘re-raise.’ Bluffing a bluffer takes the same strategy. Re-raise a character who likes to bet and raise –this will give you the opportunity to see what his cards are really worth. A simple re-raise will have most bluffs folding to a better bluff – your bluff. Remember, the best bluff comes with little risk, unless you have to commit so much of your stack to make the bad hands less valuable against other poor hands. Once started, a bluff should start pre-flop, continue on the flop, check the turn, and bet the river. If you face a call or raise to your bluff, concede the hand and attempt not to show the bluff. Move on to another, more valuable opportunity to make poor hands pay off.

The game of Poker takes skill and patience.  The ability to control yourself and the other characters in the game through the art of bluffing will prove successful and can offer a victorious payoff no matter how the cards may fall.  Like any skill, you need to learn to read the opportunities as they present themselves and practice constantly. In the end, it’s not what you have – it’s what they think you have.

 

 

 

Suggest an article

Pages 1 2