Texas Holdem Strategy – Bluffing

One of the first things that anyone learns about poker is that bluffing is a part of every poker games. Some players bluff more than others, but every player needs to throw in a bluff at least once in awhile. If you don’t ever bluff in a game like Texas hold’em, not only will you be giving away some pots that could easily be yours, you will have difficulty making a big pot when you do have a big hand, because you will have a reputation for only playing with strong cards.

Texas Hold’em Bluffing Strategy

Remember that you will primarily be using your bluffing strategy in pot limit and no limit Texas hold’em poker, because it is very difficult to put enough pressure in a limit game to get anyone to fold. In no limit, you can bet as much as you have in front of you, which means you have some good opportunities to put some serious folding pressure on your opposition.

Texas Hold’em Bluffing Strategy: Bet Sizing

The question then arises: How big should your bluff bets be? The most important thing is not to be predictable. If you always bet big when you are bluffing and small when you want a call, your opponents will catch on fast. As a standard, you should try to make your bluff bet sizes and real hand bet sizes roughly the same, but you should adjust depending upon the situation and your opponents.

Texas Hold’em Bluffing Strategy: Semi-Bluffs

A semi-bluff is a hand that is currently not the best, but may become the best, like a flush or straight draw. The idea is that you make a healthy bet hoping that your opponent will fold, but if he does not, you may hit your hand and win a big pot. Semi-bluffs can be a powerful weapon in your poker arsenal because it gives you two ways to win. However, if you know that there is no way that your opponent will fold, you are usually better off simply calling and trying to hit your hand, since you lack the “fold equity” to make a semi-bluff worthwhile.