Bluffing is a very integral part of poker. It is practically the very thing that makes poker games epic. A nicely executed bluff is even more appreciated by the railbirds than someone showing a royal flush. After all, if someone has a royal flush – then that’s just insane luck. Of course the player would know how to play his hand if he has a royal flush. If, however, a person has a hand that is absolutely worthless and he’s playing against someone who has a good one, and he actually wins through bluffing. Then, that there is talent. The best players in poker are the ones who are good bluffers. And to be a good bluffer, you have to know if the situation is right for a bluff. And to know this, you have to take note of these different factors.

 

When you want to bluff, always remember that the more people there are in the table, the harder it will be. You’ll have a much easier time bluffing your way to victory if there are fewer people on the table. If there are just one or two more people on the table and you think they can be intimidated into folding, then go ahead. However, do keep in mind that bluffing 3 or more people in the hopes of having them all fold is a foolhardy plan. Most likely, one of them will call your bluff and you’ll end up having to either fold and cut your losses or continue and invest more money than you wish to. It is much better to bluff when there are only one or two opponents.

 

Another thing that you should do is to watch your own expression. If you have a bad hand, try to look at it impassively. Practice your poker face so that you can look at a bad hand without showing that you are displeased. An experienced player can look for the slightest tells and can remember your expression when you first looked at your card. In fact, if you want to always leave an opening for a bluff, then you can go the extra mile and try to look at a particularly bad hand with a slight pleased expression, but then you also have to look like you’re trying to keep it from showing. It will take some good acting skills to pull this off, but then it will be worth it. If you’re afraid of messing it up, though, then just use your poker face. A face that can’t be read is just about the standard shield against opponents who like to read.

 

If you bet consistently, you won’t be able to get the most out of your bluff. Your opponents will think that you have a very good hand and you’re really trying to milk the money out of them. So, after the flop, try to check if you can. Then, when the turn or the river is revealed, bet a big amount. This will intimidate your opponents and make them think you’ve completed your hand. However, be sure that you can theoretically form a great hand with the cards you have and your ‘imaginary’ good hole cards. If you don’t, others might see that you’re just bluffing.