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03-01-2007, 9:47 PM Niki Joined on 01-21-2007 US Posts 16 To Bluff or Not to Bluff? I have been playing both NL and limit hold'em and I have to ask the question to bluff or not to bluff? Here are my thoughts: No Limit (tournies) In order to make it far in NL tournies I feel it is absolutely necessary to try and bluff once in awhile. I've noticed some players build up a lot of chips using this technique. They tend to raise 3x-4x the bb when the blinds are going up and there are antes. People are nervous when you get close to being paid so they are more likely to fold. It is a good point in the tourney to take advantage of this and try to build your stack. Limit I have played several different limit hold'em stakes anywhere from $1/$2 through $25/$50. One thing that I have found is that bluffing rarely pays off. Quite a few players will call down with bottom pair and even A high. So my thought is if you don't have the cards don't bet or raise because you will get called. What are your thoughts? Niki :P nikitispoker.com    Report

03-05-2007, 8:03 AM bamamon1 Joined on 08-04-2006 mobile,al Posts 15 Re: To Bluff or Not to Bluff? my thoughts on NL holdem is that if your in the chips then its not necassary you can just buy most pots, if your low stacked then it becomes very necassary especially if the blinds are barkin at your heels thats just my opinion and im just a beginner    Report

05-08-2007, 11:06 AM QUADLADY Joined on 07-26-2006 IL Posts 53 Re: To Bluff or Not to Bluff? I think bluffing is part of the game. I think it is important when blinds get big to try to take a set every round. that way your stack will maintain. Finding the right time to do this is always fun. Online can be a little tricky. I have found that if you watch peoples betting styles you can tell a lot. I try to watch how fast people bet and how much they are betting when they have a hand. Their betting style usually changes when they are bluffing. They tend to bet bigger and much quicker. Well, now that everyone knows what I look for I have to go figure out a new strategy... ~BELL    Report

06-01-2007, 3:19 AM rocksursocks Joined on 06-01-2007 Posts 5 Re: To Bluff or Not to Bluff? I try not to bluff online. Playing at a low level it usually never works. The only bluff that works is the continuation bluff, but other than that people will call with any two cards. It gets ridiculous sometimes.    Report

10-19-2007, 3:38 PM gollum78 Joined on 09-06-2007 Wesson,MS Posts 44 Re: To Bluff or Not to Bluff? Sometimes if I bluff I have to have atleast an out that way if I do get called I've got something to fall back on. Alot of times when I'm sitting at the table long enough I can tell who I can bluff and who I can't, because some people will just keep calling and calling until they catch something or if they have a little piece of something. Either way if you win or lose, people will see that do you bluff which can work to your advanage when they call you up the times you are holding. Gollum78 Never count a person out until the fall of the last card.    Report

12-28-2007, 2:03 PM tzachip Joined on 07-02-2007 Posts 4 Re: To Bluff or Not to Bluff? I think u must bluff from time to time If you got a good read on your oponent, and the cards are right GO FOR IT    Report

03-02-2008, 12:30 AM Money022 Joined on 03-02-2008 Iowa Posts 6 Re: To Bluff or Not to Bluff? There's a difference between blind stealing and bluffing in MTT's. Stealing blinds is a must in MTT's as you're not going to pick up enough playable hands and M's are so low that you have to do something to combat the ever increasing blinds. Generally it's best against stacks that are in the middle of the pack as short stacks are likely to defend with a wider range and big stacks will be enticed to play back at you and force you to fold preflop. As for bluffing in limit hold'em, it's pretty tough. Generally the odds a player is given to call with any piece of the board makes it pretty tough to get them to lay down a hand at any stakes. As for bluffing in NLHE, it works at any level. There's a common misconception among most that bluffing at micro stakes is pointless. It's just not true. Bluffing works when you face an opponent who's demonstrated the ability to fold post flop. You can find those players at any level. It's just a matter of finding fewer players at micro stakes who are actually willing to fold. :) Another key to bluffing in any type of poker game, and probably the point that's often overlooked by newer players, is that your bluff has to make sense. There are way too many instance where I run into a player who decides to pick a random spot to throw out a bluff and it just doesn't fit the previous action. These are often unsuccessful against an opponent who's paying attention, and results in unecessarily losing chips. Before any bluff you should ask yourself a few things. What hand am I trying to represent, does my line fit with this hand, do I have fold equity, and most importantly, am I facing an opponent who's shown a willingness to fold. There's no point bluffing calling stations or people with no fold equity IE, they already have most of their money in the pot, or your bluff is giving the the correct odds to call with a wide range. Bluffing works and can be very profitable when done correctly and against the right opponent. The Velvet Felter    Report

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