Timing a Bluff
If you have a drawing hand and only needing one card to make your hand. You can make what is called a semi-bluff. Itò€™s called a semi-bluff because you only need a card to make your hand and win the pot and if you have the best hand already itò€™s not a bluff. If you bluff it correctly and your opponent folds then you will just take the pot there. If you do get called you still may win the hand on the next card and it helps to build the pot. If you get re-raised you may be up against a pretty good hand so I would fold unless iò€™m getting the right pot odds.If you are bluffing a short stack player you have to be careful. They will either fold or reraise all -in if they have hit any part of the flop. They rarely call when bet into. With more experience it will be easier to tell when they will push or fold. Get some experience at Full Tilt Poker.
Do most of your bluffs in late position. In late position you are usually in last to act so you know what kind of hand your opponent has unless they are slow playing a big hand. A way to tell if they are slow playing is to bluff at the pot and if they have a hand they will usually call or raise. Be wary of that, but usually if they check and you place a big bet the checkers will usually fold and you will win the pot.
Itò€™s easier to bluff when you are heads up. Bluffs are more successful against one player rather than a whole table. When you have more players in the hand it isÒ more likelyÒ that one of them has a good hand. Try to bluff with no more than 2 other players in the hand.
Donò€™t try to bluff new or poor players. These players never fold. So know your opponents and how they play. New players tend to just call every hand down to the river so only bluff or semi-bluff with a good hand that will win on at the showdown.
Bluffing is all about timing. When it is successful it not only helps in the present hand, but also future hands. When you get your opponents guessing about what hands you may have, you got them right where you want them. Youò€™ll be able to push your way around the table and control the action on your way to winning alot of money.