THE PSYCHOLOGY OF BLUFFING IN POKER: UNRAVELING THE MIND GAMES

Poker is one of the most challenging casino games, as it requires players to think about everything. You must consider how good your cards are, what other players could have, and whether you should stay in the game. All this while, you must have a neutral face and avoid any tells that could help your opponents beat you. This balance is not easy for many people, and they often lose themselves because they react to something more than they should. So, how can you perfect this balance? - Bluffing. We show you what this entails and how you can become a pro at it.

What is Bluffing?

We use the term bluffing even in non-poker situations. Take the example of a yard sale where a buyer threatens to walk away if they don’t get the item at their preferred price. The seller can either believe them or can call their bluff. In the latter case, the seller already knows that the buyer will not walk away and will thus hold their ground because they know they have them hooked.

So, how does bluffing work in poker? It is quite simple. All poker players must work to finish the game with a good hand. But a few minutes into the game, players can tell if they have a strong hand. Those with weak or average hands have several options. They can fold (not many people like doing this as they prefer holding on to see what will happen), hold (stay in the game), or bluff. In this last case, the player makes a bet or raises it even when they know they do not have the best hand. Doing this will sway the other players to believe you have a favorable position. After all, why else would you make such a move?

But here is the thing with bluffing. It only works if you do it right. Let's go back to the yard sale example. If a buyer truly wants an item at a discount, they must show the buyer that they are willing to walk away for good. For example, the buyer may point out some defects in the item to prompt the buyer to rethink their price. The bluff only works if the seller believes the buyer will leave the item behind. Of course, sellers are also good at reading body language. They can tell if a buyer will stick it out to the end by judging their words versus their actions.

The same principles apply to poker. If you want other players to believe you have a hand worthy of a bet or a raise, you must act like it. Let's show you how to do it.

How to be Great at Bluffing

Poker players are so used to bluffs that they barely lose confidence in their gameplay when someone raises their bet. So, how can you convince them that you are the real deal?

1. Limit the number of players

If you bluff, you must convince every other player on the table that you have the upper hand. Of course, the task becomes challenging if you have more than two opponents. You are unlikely to keep up the charade for long before someone outs you. However, this limitation only exists if you have a weak hand. If you have a good hand and can win the game, you can bluff even if many players are on the table. So, always weigh your winning chances versus the number of players before you make such a move.

2. Bluff when it is necessary

Some players believe that they should bluff as often as possible. So, even with weak hands, they continue with their bluffs. Here is the problem with this issue. The premise of bluffing is to convince other players you have a good hand. By doing this, you push some of them to forfeit the game, which leaves you with fewer competitors. Now, let us look at this statistically. Suppose you are playing against five other people. Based on averages, everyone can win one out of every six hands, assuming you have similar poker skills. If you were to bluff six times, you would likely not win all the games. It's thus better to continue with the bluff only when you already have a considerably good hand or when your competition is likely to spook if you raise your bet.

3. Don't be Predictable

Poker requires you to be mysterious, so people cannot tell what moves you will make in the game. By bluffing often, people start expecting you to make and raise bets even when you have a weak hand. Unfortunately, this works against you. Each time you raise your bet, your opponents will overplay their hands (even if they are weak), making it harder for you to make good profits when you bluff. Of course, if they overplay their bad hands when you have the advantage, it will work against them. But statistically speaking, being the bluffer will work against you in the long run, and you should thus avoid this table image.

4. Don’t Use Bluffing as a Crutch

Being good at bluffing will not always result in big wins. Thus, you should focus on being a good poker player who understands different winning strategies. The bluff can then be a bonus to your exceptional skills, allowing you to limit how and when you use it.

Most importantly, you should know the right time to bluff. Usually, you should do this when you have an inkling that your opponent will fold under the pressure. But how can you know this? You will need to learn how to read people to gauge their tells. And when you think your opponent is in a tight position and unlikely to have a good hand, bluff.