I was asked how and when to bluff, and the answer is very complicated. I thought I should share my thoughts. I know this subject excites everyone, as everyone loves to pull off a great bluff!

WHO:
Don't bluff the unbluffable. If you see someone call an all in with less than top pair, or top pair/no kicker, mark it on the notes! Then don't bother. Take their money instead by betting the crap out of the next hand you get. Bluff the guy who never check-raises, then checks to you. Bluff the guy who always bets the strength of their hand, and bets a little. Bluff the minimum bettor, unless they have the capability of being tricky. Don't often bluff the guy who will re-steal from you. If someone is capable of a check-raise bluff... don't do it. Bluff the aggressive players, by check-raising them, after they make their "automatic" steal bet.

WHEN:
-Pot odds. If the action is checked to you, and there is 200 in the pot. Betting 100 regardless of your holding is good if you think you can pick it up 1/3 of the time or more. Example: Board KK998, you hold 23o on the button. Someone checks to you. If you bet 100 you'll win 200 when they fold and lose 100 when they call/raise. It only has to work 1/3 times to be successful.
-Against tight players. Your odds go up tremendously.
-Against those who never check-raise and check to you, or those who bet when they have a hand, then check to you. They aren't confident in the strength of their hand. If they call, bet more on the next round!
-When you have outs. A good time to bet is often when you have four to a flush or 4 to a straight or both. This is called a semi-bluff. Semi-bluffs combine the chances of winning your hand, and fold equity together. (Fold equity is defined as the mathematical probability that your opponent will fold if you bet)
-Against a bad flop. Flop comes 852. Your opponent doesn't play that crap. Get it.
-Against just one opponent, or two very tight opponents. The chances of getting called/raised are higher if you try it against multiple opponents.
-When your image is tight. When people think you are only playing the goods, they fear your strength.
-Flop pairs on the turn with no flop bets. A common flop that lends itself to bluffing is one where no one bet the flop and the turn pairs the top card. You can usually be reasonably sure that the top pair did not make someone trips. Proceed with caution. Bet 2/3 of the pot max.
-When the river is an ace. If you are reasonably sure that your opponent had top pair, and missed the river ace, it's time to try one if the combination is one that would have normally been raised preflop. Say the board is Q743A, and you think your opponent has the queen. You can be reasonably certain that AQ preflop would have brought a raise, so it's unlikely your opponent has AQ. Take a shot!
-Stealing in the small blind. If the action is folded to you, and your opponent will fold to a minimum raise more than half the time, go for it.
-Stealing in the big blind, against only the small blind. If your opponent tends to raise hands like A2, KJ in the small blind, and they limp, punish them preflop, they'll fold.
-Stealing in the big blind, against several limpers. If your opponents generally don't limp with pairs or AJ or better, and you get a bunch of limpers, you can try an all-in or big bet from the big blind. Don't try this against shortstacks who may feel they have nothing to lose, loose players, or tricky players.
-When your opponent folds too much. Invite them to do so again.
-When you REALLY need to win a pot. If you are shorter stacked in a tourney, but still have six times the BB or slightly better, sometimes taking a shot is worth it against a tighter table, if you are in late position.
-When your hand is very weak and you think your opponent may have missed a draw. Try a small bet. Even a tiny bet might get the job done.

WHEN NOT TO BLUFF:
-Flops with aces. If you are called, you are playing a guessing game.
-When you have some type of made hand. Why bluff with second pair? You opponent will call you only if you are beat. Otherwise you will win anyway.
-When someone is all in. People tend to check this down to eliminate the all in player, and may check a reasonably strong hand to you. Plus you have to beat the player who is all in.
-Flops with jacks or tens (or both!). Your opponent is likely to have a draw or a made hand.
-Against a preflop raise, after the flop in first position. The preflop raiser created a protected pot, and will protect it.
-Against many flop callers. It's tough to get everyone to fold.
-Against loose players. Don't be the guy who says, "I can't believe he called me down with King High!". Besides, the loose player will likely cough it up later when you do have a hand.
-When you have a mid-sized stack, and a called bluff could give you a shortstack. Bigger stacks have better benefits and allow for more flexibility. Don't risk that flexibility!
-Preflop, when there is a shortstack behind you. The "take a stand" mentality is often there.
-When your confidence is low. Since bluffing creates higher variance, there is more potential for a bluff gone bad to create tilt.

WHERE:
Bluffing at higher stakes games is generally more profitable. Even though the actual stakes don't affect the pot odds, it seems the higher the stakes are, the more often the bluff will be successful.

WHY:
If you bluff a lot, you will notice something special about your nut hands. They will start to be paid off more often, when you bet. When you get a run of cards and have a loose image, you will get all sorts of people trying to "snap you off" on a bluff. People don't like to be deceived and for that reason, if they think you are bluffing, they will call. You will win more orphan pots (pots no one seems to want), and if you are caught, you might still suck out, causing some know-it-all to label you as a donkey! Bluffing increases variance in tourneys, which is also good because the majority of the prize money is at the top! So you will win more with one first prize and nine eliminations than ten "just in the money" finishes! It increases your ability to put others on a hand as time goes by.

HOW:
It's best if your bluffs look just like your bets with good hands. This will confuse your opponents, and confused people call. Since in NLH the best thing to do is usually fold or raise, when your opponents are calling, you are winning.

SHOULD YOU ADVERTISE???
You should if you want your opponents to call you next time you bet. If you are playing superior players, you should never, ever advertise. It will contribute to their reads. If you create an environment where everyone is showing their cards, you get a lot of free reads. Proceed with caution, make sure that if you show, you have a great reason.

-Jennifear

Reproduced with permission from Jennifear.com by Jenny Sullivan. Jennifear teaches private poker lessons, and you can find the details at www.Jennifear.com, or by e-mailing her at Goodtime46@aol.com. Jennifear boasts a 40% ROI in over 10,000 SNGs at the low-limits. Get a $15 discount when you use SavvyPoints to purchase one of her lessons! Click here for details.

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