Nerdistan

Poker games would not be complete without some bluffing. Sometimes it wins a pot, but it can make a player go bust. Why do poker players bluff? And what are the best scenarios for deploying this tactic?

Remember - bluffing is a double-side weapon. It can backfire and wind up costing you lots of chips. How can you use it to advantage and minimize losses? The semi-bluff is the best way to use this strategy. That means you’ve actually got a chance at making the best hand. Perhaps you’re hold four to the flush or an open-ended straight. Bluffing might win the pot right there, and if called, you could win a big pot if your hand improves. Limiting bluffs to situations when you might actually win the pot is a better risk than bluffing with nothing.

When you don’t win, you can still get leverage from the bluff because other poker players will see that you only bet when the odds are good. It can serve to advertise your skill and make the other players wary of making a call later on in the game. If you are going to bluff, then be sure it conveys the right image you are seeking to establish. Bluffing a small amount at a small pot will costs you little, and can make you successful with a bigger bluff as the game progresses.

Bluffing should be used sparingly. Don’t waste it on worthless hands. Only bluff with the intention to win because your hand might improve.