BLUFFING!!

[The K1ngpin]

I noticed what I think to be a hole in my game recently, and I am wondering if anyone can give me some insight on this. This particular situation deals with INTERNET ONLY poker, not real life.

I have recently became a much more aggressive player (tight agg.), and I notice I bluff a lot more than I used to. The problem is is knowing favorable times to bluff. Sometimes I just am 100% sure I can get away with it, but the problem is is knowing when to stop. I don't usually catch myself in the moment, but I think about it atfer I lose. For example, I'll be playing a great game, making some great hands, betting how I should. I will bluff when I should. However sometimes I will miss the flop and just throw out a pretty high bet, in which another player may go all in or re-raise me HUGE. Usually at the point I fold, but after situations like this they add up. While a lot of the times the bluffing will be successsful, when it is not and this stuff happens my chip stack dwindles very quickly. I may lose 15-20% of my stack one time, another 20% on another stupid bluff, etc. Did anyone else ever have this problem starting out? When are the best times to bluff? If I completely miss the flop, what's the best thing to do with a strong hand? Check and let my sole opponent throw a bet into me that may result in HIM bluffing me out the pot? Or should I throw a small bet at him and see how he reacts? If he calls it will be easier for me to put him on a hand. If he re-raises I can even put him on a better hand. If he folds, great. But if I check into him and he bets, there is no telling the situation. What should I do?

[Pingviini]

{Moved from Poker Etcetera}

[littleogre]

Not sure what stakes you play but at low stakes games it is very hard to make stone cold bluffs Personally i rely more on semi bluffs but i do use absolute bluffs now and then and one thing i can tell you is the best time to bluff is after the flop. Also do not resteal at lower levels as it rarely works.

[Irisheyes]

Untill you get to 200nl there are no "best times to bluff". Just don't do it and you'll save yourself loads of $$.

Continuation bets and pot steals in speific situations are the exceptions.

[The K1ngpin]

I'm referring more to $10 Sit N Go's, I'll do great but sometimes it seems like I bluff all my chips away. Is it more favorable to bluff when you have big cards in the pocket and get a bad flop if you think you may be able to steal the pot? Is it almost worthless to try and bluff with low cards in the pocket?

[edudlive]

Stone cold bluffing is overrated.

[Blinky]

Is it more favorable to bluff when you have big cards in the pocket and get a bad flop if you think you may be able to steal the pot? Is it almost worthless to try and bluff with low cards in the pocket?

If you're bluffing your cards are irrelevant. That is the definition of a bluff isn't it? You're fundamentally misrepresenting your hand.

At the levels I play (25NL, 5/10 SnG), bluffing stone cold isn't needed. I can't think of many cases where I stone-cold bluff at all - you need opponents who are cognizant of what you're trying to represent by your bets.

I stick to semibluffs, cbets and the odd potsteal where it's been checked to me otb. That is already plenty of bluffing.

This and a relatively TAGGy game should be plenty in the aquarium.

[azn_fool2k6]

ok first post hope it works. i have noticed that the exact same thing had happened to me previously but have pretty much stopped the stone cold bluffs. when i first started i overrated the stone cold bluff and used it every 5-10 hands, midway through a tourney, but never early. i noticed that i ended up losing plenty of chips and ended up fighting back for chips. i believe that it is easier to bluff into loose players however, it is your preference. well i think i 've said enough for a first post.

[UG]

Stone cold bluffing is overrated.

I agree, but once you move up in levels it can DEFINITELY work, if the situation allows it.

Someone else also said that, "until you reach NL200, don't worry about bluffing." I find this to be semi-wrong, too. Even at NL25 you can find people capable of bluffing.

But, for the most part, he is right, the majority of the time it's not worth it.....because when you're only throwing $5 or $10 out there to call a bluff it doesn't really "mean that much" to do so....once you get to higher levels, though, when you have to throw out $50 or $100 (or more) to call a bluff, then the "poop" gets REAL.

[dev]

Bluffing is probably the biggest hole in my game. I make a lot of really good, educated bluffs, but every once in a while I bluff off a stack without a good read on my opponent. Take it from me, it's better to bluff too little than too much.

Besides blind steals LATE in a tournament, when the blinds are worth stealing, if you're up against more than one opponent just don't bother.

Also, bluff the opponent, not the limit. There are good players at 25NL, just as there are calling station/cops that will call you down with ace high. If you don't have a read on them, just play your cards.

[Irisheyes]

Someone else also said that, "until you reach NL200, don't worry about bluffing." I find this to be semi-wrong, too. Even at NL25 you can find people capable of bluffing.

But, for the most part, he is right, the majority of the time it's not worth it.....because when you're only throwing $5 or $10 out there to call a bluff it doesn't really "mean that much" to do so....once you get to higher levels, though, when you have to throw out $50 or $100 (or more) to call a bluff, then the "poop" gets REAL.

I believe trying to catch or make stone cold bluffs at 25nl, while not costing that much, will be -EV for the average player.

[littleogre]

The bigest hole in my game is a bluff people that call all ins with nothing but 2 overs and no draw

[aislephive]

Well your image is pretty important here as well, but bluffing should be a high percentage move. You need to have a great read on your opponent to make a +EV stone cold bluff. Also, your bluffs should have a favorable risk reward ratio. Basically, don't risk too much to win a little pot. Situations to bluff come up, and they should be taken advantage of, but you should never come into a pot to try to bluff.

[q8moh87]

I'm finding myself lately good with bluffs

i can see when it is a good time to bluff (usually i bet the pot) at

25NL party poker

i found that position can help and knowing the habbits of each oppenent is very important