The Art of Bluffing

The art of bluffing is one of the most integral aspects of the game of poker. It is a strategy even non-poker players think they understand. Bluffing is simply an act of deception; a way to make your weak hand look stronger than it is in hopes of getting your opponent to fold. But what makes a bluff successful?  There are many matters one should consider when deciding whether or not to bluff. The three things one should consider is the opponent’s position, the betting history of the hand, and the size of the bet. 

Ultimately, your opponents determine whether a bluff will be successful. There are many different types of players and it is vital that you pick the right opponents to bluff against. Many think choosing a weak player to bluff against is a good strategy. However, targeting a player who is not the best at the table can actually be a determinant. This is because you want to avoid players that are so bad that they don’t think about your bet when he decides to call or fold. In a way you need a player who is smart enough to recognize the signals of a good hand. So even if they think you have them beat, they are able to recognize tells that you may be bluffing. This reverse phycology is a crucial skill to master. 

The history of your opponent needs to be taken into consideration as well. For example, some players lose so badly that they become impatient. They’ll give away the rest of their stack with any kind of draw. According to WSOP studies, players that have been bleeding chips usually increase their betting by 33 percent. These individuals don’t make good targets for your bluff even if they normally are a good player. Conversely, if a guy has just won a large pot and is stacking his chips, he’s probably thinking more about preserving his stack and may make a great target for a bluff.  It's all about recognizing the situation of the hand to know which person to target while bluffing. 

There’s a time and place to succeed with bluffing, which is a complicated matter. Yet many players end up getting trapped my deception. It’s important to consider that bluffing isn't always about how much you bluff with, but whom you bluff towards.