Joined: Dec '12
Location: Bulgaria
Age: 47 (M)
Posts: 1022
You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time." - Abraham Lincoln
One element of poker is deception. Bluffing is the quintessential trick in hold em poker. Of course, the reasoning for a bluff is to deceive the other players into thinking you have a better hand when you actually do not. For a bluff to work, you need the other players to think you actually have that better hand. Many beginning poker players love this idea of bluffing and often misuse it. The value of the bluff increases under certain general circumstances that often have a lot to do with information you assume about the other players. This vagueness makes it difficult to give definitive reasons or places to bluff. Here are some less generalized ideas on when to bluff: Not many players in the pot
Simply put, it's easier to trick a couple people than a crowd. With fewer hands out there, chances are better that no one has made a reasonable hand. This is fairly common though, so many players won't believe you. Some will stay in the hand just to "keep you honest", so sometimes this needs to be a persistent bluff over a period of two or three betting rounds. That can be costly if they don't fall for it. You need to know the players before you use this type of bluff. Up against tight players
Those that tend to fold easily are the biggest targets of a bluff. Bets will be put out just as a form of information gathering on this player's hand. If you bluff early (preflop, flop) against a very tight player and they don't buckle, you should think twice about trying it again on a future round. They have something. Your job is to determine whether they have a made or drawing hand. Once again, you need to know the players. On the river
Especially if apparent drawing hands missed or an overcard hits. That's when players react to rule #1 "the moment you know you can't win, throw in your cards". It is often a good idea to bluff with a weak hand, like ace-high or lowest pair with these kinds of bluffs, because some players will stay in just because of pot odds. If you do that, it is actually semi-bluffing. In late position and everyone else checked
This one you'll have to gauge for yourself. It will most likely force some players out, but not all. This is a pretty common bluff once again, and many players will stay in just because of bet odds, and/or to once again "keep you honest". This is another example of a bluff that needs to be more persistent over a couple betting rounds. You bet preflop and missed.
This is called a continuation bet. This can be a little dangerous, and you really have to evaluate to board and players before you start habitually doing it. You have the right table image
It's about how other players perceive you. If you just won a hand through good play, the players who say "nice hand" are the ones who now respect you. They will more likely fold to your bluff if you play it right. The trick is to play the hand exactly the same way you played the other winning hand with a little "here we go again" act. Against a junky flop
Some players will fold automatically if all they have is an overcard. With a rainbow flop of 2-6-9, not many players will have much. This is another example of a bluff that can go horribly awry. Don't be too persistent in this case, unless only more low cards pop up. Once again, know your players. When there is a board pair
This is especially useful when the pair is 88 or lower. Chances are that these cards might have been folded or are still in the deck. This is one situation where you want to reevaluate the hand very carefully if they do call though. This is a great situation to read the tells of the players who are not in the hand. It's much easier to give away the fact that you had a card than if you have the card.
Keep in mind that these are pretty common reasons to bluff. Many players know these reasons. Most of the time it just won't work. The main thing is always to know your players and to not do it so often that it never works.
There are some great books about bluffing out there. We suggest reading as much as you can about it, as it's one of the most misunderstood aspects of poker for beginners.
Joined: Feb '12
Location: Canada
Age: 64 (M)
Posts: 6036
I know one thing for sure,...you cannot be a winning poker player without bluffing OR bullying sometimes... Simply relying on getting the cards you need to win a hand just doesn't work in the long run...
You must outright bluff occassionally,...or bluff your way out of a sticky wicket...!
which are not recommended in the BRM freerolls especiall against the russians and romanians and yeah not doubt bluffing is a must in every games you play against serious players to be a winning player in the long run as mentioned by demo there gl guys and have a good sunday
Joined: Jun '10
Location: Belgium
Age: 57 (M)
Posts: 178
In poker you need to bluff sometimes, it all depends on the board texture and the players. If you play against a calling station you better don't bluff because he will call most of the times, so if you don't have a descent hand it makes no sence. If you play against a tight player you can try to bluff when an high card or a thirth suited card comes on the board
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Australia
Age: 40 (M)
Posts: 6483
Would you consider it a 'bluff' if you completely rip-off somebodies elses work (INCLUDING THE ABE LINCOLN QUOTE!!!) and paste it 'as you own' with absolutely no reference/credit to the original source.
Joined: Dec '12
Location: Bulgaria
Age: 47 (M)
Posts: 1022
Posted by jessthehuman: Would you consider it a 'bluff' if you completely rip-off somebodies elses work (INCLUDING THE ABE LINCOLN QUOTE!!!) and paste it 'as you own' with absolutely no reference/credit to the original source.
SCUMBAG!
jess, this is obviously not my article and everyone can see it. This thread is in the section "poker strategies" which could be pleasant for everyone.
Joined: Jan '09
Location: Italy
Age: 53 (M)
Posts: 3871
Posted by Peter7878: You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time." - Abraham Lincoln
lol...I always thought itwas a sentence of Bob Marley
Joined: Apr '11
Location: Romania
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 6669
I think is a no brainer to say that in poker bluffing is indeed necessary. I think the winning rate if you would only play your cards would be way too low to be profitable on long term.
If you do not start to play like a donk and raise all times no matter what even regulars can be fooled when you hold crap in hand but you play them like premium hands.
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Australia
Age: 40 (M)
Posts: 6483
Posted by Peter7878:
Posted by jessthehuman: Would you consider it a 'bluff' if you completely rip-off somebodies elses work (INCLUDING THE ABE LINCOLN QUOTE!!!) and paste it 'as you own' with absolutely no reference/credit to the original source.
SCUMBAG!
jess, this is obviously not my article and everyone can see it. This thread is in the section "poker strategies" which could be pleasant for everyone.
The original thread you can find here:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ironically - I have to edit the source, as you're not actually allowed to link.
The thing is - it's somebody elses work they've done for another site - most likely somebody paid to write articles for that site. It's actually plagiarism to just C&P verbatim somebody else's work and it's not really okay to do.
If you *DO* find you really need to copy and paste an entire article, then you need to reference where you got it from, it's not enough just to say 'it's obviously not my article'. Because even if it is obvious (it isn't to everyone you know), it STILL doesn't credit whoever did write it. Not to mention, it's not fair on the actual site that is probably paying somebody to write that content for them.
Why not write your own article for BRM? That would be really cool, read some other articles and then put together your own thoughts instead.
Joined: Dec '12
Location: Bulgaria
Age: 47 (M)
Posts: 1022
Posted by jessthehuman:
Posted by Peter7878:
Posted by jessthehuman: Would you consider it a 'bluff' if you completely rip-off somebodies elses work (INCLUDING THE ABE LINCOLN QUOTE!!!) and paste it 'as you own' with absolutely no reference/credit to the original source.
SCUMBAG!
jess, this is obviously not my article and everyone can see it. This thread is in the section "poker strategies" which could be pleasant for everyone.
The original thread you can find here:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ironically - I have to edit the source, as you're not actually allowed to link.
The thing is - it's somebody elses work they've done for another site - most likely somebody paid to write articles for that site. It's actually plagiarism to just C&P verbatim somebody else's work and it's not really okay to do.
If you *DO* find you really need to copy and paste an entire article, then you need to reference where you got it from, it's not enough just to say 'it's obviously not my article'. Because even if it is obvious (it isn't to everyone you know), it STILL doesn't credit whoever did write it. Not to mention, it's not fair on the actual site that is probably paying somebody to write that content for them.
Why not write your own article for BRM? That would be really cool, read some other articles and then put together your own thoughts instead.
Just read my threads and my posts! You will find that 90% of my posts and threads are mine. You will find my thoughts, my experinces, my advices to others etc. Nothing more to say.
gl guys and have a good sunday 
