When to bluff

[maxie08]

I haven't been playing poker for that long and was wondering when do you bluff? Is there a certain time in the game that you should or shouldn't bluff? I don't seem to very good at it. It seems everytime I do I get called on it. This is my thinking, if your going to bluff it should be after a card is played that it would "appear" helped in your hand. Suggestions???

[JoeShowdown]

Bluff whenever you get the urge. Its easier to bluff early in a tournament because players will patiently wait for a better spot to stick their chips in. However, its easier to bluff late in tourneys when people tighten up near the bubble or tighten up because the payouts increase significantly. So, bluff whenever you get the urge!

[pdutty]

totally agree, it is easier to bluff late in tourneys when people tighten up and all "calling station "players are gone.

[LombardiStix]

How about hand per hand situations? There are sooooo many times where the flop hits 3 diamonds or there are obvious straight/flush draws on the board. You cannot be afraid to use this common information to push your opponent off a hand. This is another reason why you hear the saying "LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION" (position) is so important. I great player in great location is deadly.

[derringer007]

I never bluff If i can isolate a passive player is a great opportunity to exploit his/her weakness as being passive. Over all, Position is the most important time to consider a bluff as well as being late in the tourney when blinds are huge and chip stacks are dwindling along with approaching the cash bubble and panic is setting in.

[villaridge]

lol, when to bluff? There are so many variables with that. Position is a big key. but that is just not a matter of having the "best" position. I work BB, SB, and UTG bluffs in when the timing is right.

The only thing I can say is, know ur players, and play about 50K hands, u will get the hang of it. A lot of bluffing comes down to watching an opponents betting. most players broadcast the strength of their hands by their betting patterns. Always look to see with what they won with. Once you know their card range and betting pattterns, bluffing them becomes much easier. Of course you must also correctly bluff with the right "scare" cards on the board.

And of course the usual disclaimer: bluffing does not work agaisnt donkeys.

[hattirohanza]

I don't have a problem with bluffing but with reading hands, I don't get why people bet big when they flop a monster.

I always read this as a bluff, because I don't understand why you would want to scare people away and lost quite a few pots that way.

It's easier to read people when you're sitting at a table a while, but early in the tournament or after you're being moved I struggle.

[ita17]

bluffing is one of the most importent things a proffesional poker player should know.
you need to isolate your opponets that you feel that they are scared of something and fool them.
you mustn't bluff when the table is full of hands.

[tripleooo21]

i think ita17 is a smart guy and i accept with what he says but i prefer to bluff when i wont almost every one fold pre flop and after the flop i bluff to see against what hand im standing

[Rabid Llama]

Always remember... You Cant Bluff Stupid

that said you bluff should fit. Sounds strange but it is easer to bluff a good player then a bad one.

what i mean is a good player knows what their cards are and is aware of what YOUR cards could be. If the bluff does not fit *cards on the talbe, bets and calls pre and post flop, plays you made before.....* then a bluff may not work.

Also if you are trying to Bluff Stupid and Stupid has an Ace High your toast..