A short while back when I started playing poker I bluffed a lot. After some time I noticed I lost quite a lot due to my poor bluffing, so I tried to cut it to the minimum. Then I found FTR, bought Theory of Poker and NL: T&P, and started bluffing a lot again (it's my second nature). Maybe even a bit too much, but I do it so much better now!

Anyways. I'm going to tell you in what situations I usually bluff (I'm playing mostly 10NL) and I'd like you to comment on it and point out my mistakes. Of course it varies depending on the other ppl in the pot and the board but this is how it usually goes...

Situation 1:
I'm the PF bettor and get 1-3 calls, I'm in position.
Villain(s) check.


If I have less than 8 apparent outs, I bet 1/2 pot unless the board has possible flush or straight draws, in which case I bet 3/4 pot. I fold to a re-raise. With 8 or more outs I check because I have a strong possibility to make a top hand with the free card and I don't have to suffer the consequenses of a possible c/r.

Situation 2:
I limp PF along with 1-3 people, I'm in position.
Villain(s) check.


This time I do the same as in situation 1, except I don't pure bluff. I semi-bluff with hypothetical 5-7 outs (ie. low to middle pair or 2 over cards).
I still check with straight or flush draws.

Situation 3:
I limp, call a raise or raise PF, I'm OOP.


With 8+ outs I sometimes make a smallish blocking bet against 2 or more villains heavily depending on their aggression level. Against a single opponent I tend to check hoping that he doesn't raise enough to ruin my odds or that he checks.

With less than 8 outs I don't bluff against more than one villain. And I semi-bluff with 5-7 outs against a single villain if I have a strong "hunch" he didn't hit (depending on the board and PF action).
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Anyways, here was 3 common flop situations in which I might bluff. I've done some programming in c++ and python and I have to make these "programs" for myself to keep in line. First I was going to write about more than just the flop but the post would've been an essay then. Also, I want to repeat that this is what I usually do in these 3 simple situations. It is easy for me to make these strict rules for myself and then bend them depending on the situation rather than improvise every situation from scratch.

Any comments? I'm sure you can find some things wrong in this.

EDIT: grammar. Duh, wrong forum. Was gonna post it on the strategy section. Move it please.