Bluff
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To bluff is to bet or raise with a bad hand in a poker game. This is useful because it can cause other players to believe the bluffing player has a dominant hand, so that they all fold; the bluffing player then wins the pot.
Contents
Types of Bluffing
There are two dominant types of bluffing.
Pure bluff
A pure bluff, or stone-cold bluff, is a bet or raise with an bad hand that has little or no chance of improving. A player making a pure bluff believes he can win the pot only if all opponents fold.
Semi Bluff
To bluff on one round with an bad hand that might improve in a later round is called a semi-bluff. A player making a semi-bluff can win the pot two different ways: by all opponents folding immediately or by catching a card to improve the player's hand.
Bluffing circumstances
Bluffing may be more effective in some circumstances than others.
- Fewer opponents who must fold to the bluff.
- The bluff provides less favorable pot odds to opponents for a call.
- The player's betting pattern in the hand has been consistent with the superior hand they are representing with the bluff.
- The opponent's betting pattern suggests the opponent may have a smaller hand that is vulnerable to a greater number of potential bigger hands.
- The opponent's betting pattern suggests the opponent may have a drawing hand and the bluff provides unfavorable pot odds to the opponent for chasing the draw.
- Opponents are not irrationally committed to the pot.
- Opponents are sufficiently skilled and paying sufficient attention.
