Should you be Bluffing More?

Bluffing is an important part of the game of poker, and as opposing players can never be sure what you have in your hand, once you have opened the betting with a bluff, they have to be convinced that they are holding a hand with at least the potential to be better than yours in order to call your bet.

The bluffer who bets first is the bluffer who wins more often, and inasmuch as it is important to not get carried away with the “strategy”, bluffing too infrequently could be damaging your bankroll.

Both tight aggressive and tight passive players have a reputation for high opening hand selection and, when playing on a particularly observant table, will find that they win pots that they enter because everybody else realises that they must have a strong hand (as they have entered the game) and folds. Consequently they do not win as many chips as they might, because nobody wants to take on their premium hands.

This can present a problem to the tight player – particularly on short-handed tables – because it prevents them from becoming competitive in the later stages of tournaments, and subdues their potential for profitable poker at the ring tables. The answer is to bluff a little more often that you normally would.

Ideally establish a table image that you are a tight player and when the opportunity presents itself (in late position with a handful of limps into the pot in front of you), play an outrageous bluff with nothing in your hand. On the first couple of occasions your opponents will fold – you may even catch a bonus on the flop if somebody decides to go with you – but eventually the other poker players will realise that you cannot be getting the great cards as often as you imply with your betting action. That will set them wondering, and make them inclined to take you on again with your premium hands.

It can actually be advantageous to you if you get caught bluffing. Your observant playing partners had you noted as being a tight player – now they are confused and do not know what to expect. You may lose a few chips on the times that it happens, but it will result in your bets on strong hands getting called by weaker ones further into the game.

Bluffing is a great ploy to vary your play and prevent you from becoming too predictable. If you get away with it – you win. If you get caught doing it – you win. Provided you do not give away outrageous tells by timing your betting action in an obvious manner, increasing the frequency of your bluffs will take your game to a newer height.