Khonnor Poker

Everyone has their own thoughts and strategy when it comes to bluffing. There are plenty of schools of thought on this one, many of which I can see the benefit of. The big question regarding bluffing is what’s considered a good, successful ratio? One in ten hands….one in fifty? I think the answer there depends on how much you’re actually winning on each bluff.

It’s for this reason that some won’t bluff much on Ful Tilt Poker until the blinds have reached a certain level in a tournament to make it worthwhile. Decent strategy, and it makes a good point. The only hole I see there is the importance of establishing yourself as someone who will bluff at least once early in the game. Get called on it and lose. Don’t lose much, but force your cards over to show what you were trying to accomplish.

Other will only bluff if they’re in the early positions, #1 to #3, when they’re still pretty much in control of setting the tone for the table. This can have it’s benefits and detriments, both of which I’ve covered in other articles. I personally don’t think it matters much for bluffing. I’ve won many bluffs coming back late in the betting position. Of course, it helps to know your opponents, and catch when they’re trying to buy the pot themselves.

And the last thing to consider is the size of the stack of the person or people you’re trying to bluff. Each size has it’s own dangers. Bluffing a small stack is dangerous because they have the least to lose. If they even get a whiff of a bluff, they’ll likely call as a “all or nothing” move of desperation. On the other hand, bluffing a large stack can be a dicey proposition unless you have an equally large stack to go toe-to-toe with.

So what should you do? Should you bluff at all on FulTilt? Yes, like I said if for no other reason than to prove you can. It’s like basketball, if you only shoot from the outside and never drive, nobody is going to fall for your pump fake from beyond the arc. You have to mix it up to keep people guessing. If you’re strong at reading people, bluffing obviously becomes a more useful tool. But if you’re not comfortable with it as a regular weapon, you don’t have to rely on it. There are plenty of other ways for a smart poker player to fare well in tournament play.