Poker Bluffing Strategy — When, How and Why It Works

What is a bluff?

A bluff is an aggressive bet made with a weak hand, aimed at making your opponent fold a stronger one. It is the most powerful and, at the same time, the most dangerous tool in a poker player's arsenal. A player who never bluffs will get called on every strong bet. A player who bluffs too often will get called on everything and played against easily.

When to bluff — the necessary conditions

Bluffing doesn't just work "for no reason." You need at least 3 of the following conditions for a bluff to be +EV (profitable in the long run):

• The board fits your range better than your opponent's range
• You are in position relative to your opponent
• Your opponent showed weakness in earlier rounds (check, small bet)
• Not too many players in the pot — maximum 1–2
• Your opponent's stack is large enough that they fear losing it

When not to bluff — avoid at all costs

In 90% of cases where players bluff and lose money, it's because one of the following conditions was present:

• Your opponent is a calling station (calls everything)
• The pot is small and not worth the risk
• The board is connected and favors your opponent's range
• You are out of position
• Your opponent has a short stack and is committed to the pot

Types of bluffs — know your arsenal

There are 4 main types of bluffs, and each one fits a different situation.

• Pure Bluff — a complete bluff, you have nothing at all
• Semi-Bluff — a bluff with improvement potential (flush draw, straight draw)
• Continuation Bet (C-Bet) — a flop bet after you raised pre-flop
• Overbet Bluff — a bet larger than the pot to create maximum pressure

How do you spot an opponent bluffing?

Spotting an opponent's bluff is a skill built up over time. Watch for the following signs: bets that are too fast or too slow, non-standard bet sizes (for instance a 73% pot bet instead of 66% or 75%), aggression that doesn't match previous actions, and — in online play — repeated patterns from the same player.