[msmith]

i am not a fan of bluffing for myself. It seems like every time I try I get busted. I guess I am not very godd at it. lol As for telling when someone else is bluffing the only way I have been able to tell is when I am playing or watching a hand and someone checks on the flop, then checks on the turn, but on the river they go all in. I know this isn't always the case, but I have found more times it is than not.

[spresso81]

Bluffing is at is best when the blinds are high or the pot is decent with some weak players.

In my opinion, especially online, to bluff early on is a waste. Bad players will call you bluff because they are bad.
Secondly, the risk of the bluff ealr, unless for some reason the pot is high but you sense weakness, does not pay off over time.


Later in a tourny, after knoowing the players, sizing up stacks, and evaluating your own postion, then bluffing is good.



In a live game, bluffing seems to be a better tool.
Sometimes you want to set up more serious plays. Or, you may want to semi-bluff. I feel that is a much better tool live than online.

[dylan236]

calling bluffs are extremely hard on online play. What i do is leave notes on the more aggressive players and notes on the real unaggressive players. There are tons of online players who try to bluff when there is a possible four card flush draw or a four cards straight draw. What you have to do is determine how that player plays, and everything will be a lot easier.

[BSgutshot]

The thing about bluffing online is that it's really only a good idea to bluff at small pots since most of the time people who are pot-comitted will protect thier middle pair if they put a lot in preflop. Even if this means going all-in against 2 pair, most players will still do it. I don't know why. I would rather be down and alive than be out.

[Yearbookpoker]

I just want to add on thing to what I've said before about bluffing. It also depends on the game. In limit games I would never bluff. Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you have a good hand in limit and bet your always called by at least 1 person. No matter how many times you bet the max your called down to the river until your sucked out against or your hand holds up. Thats exactly the reason I would never bluff on limit games. Theres very little chance that it will and work and will end up costing much more than it will help you.

[Yearbookpoker]

I was at the point where I thought bluffing in online poker was pointless. Then I tried it on a guy and showed my 9-3 high to him. He said nice bluff and from there on I use the bluff online too now. I don't however like to use it as much as I would live, but in the right spots it's good to use.

[BSgutshot]

The thing is about bluffing online. It's hard to make a huge bluff with a lot oif money in the pot. You can take a few small pots down with bluffs, but no real big pots. Big pot take downs are rare online while bluffing.

[track1697]

What's a bluff?

[BSgutshot]

Originally Posted by BSgutshot

The thing is about bluffing online. It's hard to make a huge bluff with a lot oif money in the pot. You can take a few small pots down with bluffs, but no real big pots. Big pot take downs are rare online while bluffing.

Here's a great example of what I was talking about:

I was playing a 250 titan point entry tournament today, I think top prize was $75 and 20 paid, so not a bad payout. Anyway I'm holding K-Q suited, eveyone folds to me, I raise three times the big blind. One guy calls me, flop comes J-9-3. He bets 40(big blind amount), I have about 2300 in chips so I call hoping to catch something. Turn shows A, which gave me a flush draw as well. He checked, I bet about 200 sensing weakness. He calls. River comes 4, I bet 520, he calls. He shows 8-9.

I have no idea how you cll that all with 8-9 offsuit. I was right that he was weak, but he played the hand poorly and won it.

[Takethepot25]

I have to agree with Agreen on this one. If you establish rules for when your opponents will bluff your going to have some major problems. You can't just go by the situation especially online because your playing against some idiots who are going to raise the blind with 54 offsuit. Then when the flop comes 544 and they are aggressive but you think they must be bluffing because they bet preflop and you re-raise them your going to be in trouble. You have to put reads on your opponent and be willing to lay down your hand at any time you think your beat. Watching betting patterns helps and jsut knowing the players at your table and how they play will also help you.