No other poker concept has gained more attention than the bluff. Yet, poker players do not bluff nearly as often as Hollywood movies would have you believe. That said, being able to make a timely bluff is a necessary skill for a poker player. The reason is simple – if you never bluff you will be an easy read for your opponents and whenever you play a hand they are bound to fold.

By definition a bluff is a bet that conveys to your opponents that you have a stronger hand than you actually have. It is important to remember that it is possible to calculate the profitability of a bluff. The key is to compare the odds of pulling off the bluff to the size of the bet and the size of the pot. Consequently, you need to be able to figure out the probability of your opponent(s) folding. That is why you should not try to bluff weak opponents who call everything (”calling stations”).

There are a couple of factors that will reduce your chance of bluffing:

• You are facing three or more opponents.
• The board presents many drawing possibilities
• You have a loose table image.
• There is a large pot on the table.
• You sit in an early position