POKER STRATEGY 

Bluffing

All successful poker players must be able to make a well-timed bluff. The bluff is probably the most talked-about poker concept, although it is not used as often as people believe. Still, to exclude bluffing from poker would result in an uninteresting game: If you never bluff you become too predicable and will not be able to maximize your winnings, much less win at all. You bluff when you have no chance of winning the pot or when you are trying to steal the pot before all the cards are dealt. In a cash game, it is possible to calculate whether a bluff will be profitable or not. To do this, you compare the odds of making a successful bluff to the size of the bet and the size of the pot. Therefore, an important skill is the ability to determine the likelihood that your opponent/s will fold.

The following are some factors to consider when deciding whether to bluff or not:

Type of opponent:

Do not bluff weak opponents who call with anything (referred to as "calling stations"). This is the most common mistake. Be sure that your opponent is a good enough player to fold a hand.

Number of opponents:

In general, do not bluff a field of three or more players, especially not in Limit poker. A bluff is much more likely to succeed against one opponent, not only because it is just one player but also because the pot is usually smaller, which makes it less desirable.

Your table image:

A bluff is less likely to succeed if you have a loose table image rather than a tight one. If you were recently caught bluffing, your opponents will be more likely to call you in the future, although reverse psychology can occasionally prove beneficial in such situations. For example, if a good player caught you bluffing and he regards you as a good player, he might think you would not dare bluff him again.

Your "reading" skills:

If you "read" the game well and are able to put your opponents on likely holdings, you will be able to identify good bluffing opportunities. This is probably the hardest and most important skill to master.

The board:

If the board looks like it could have hit your opponents or presents many drawing possibilities, a bluff is less likely to succeed. Look for boards without many draws or cards that are likely to improve your opponents hands. If you can represent a hand, the bluff is more likely to succeed. An uncoordinated board with one scare card that you can represent is usually a good bluffing opportunity.

The size of the pot:

Your opponents will be more prone to call if the pot is big because they get better pot odds. On the other hand, if you make a successful bluff in a big pot the reward will also be bigger. This is when good judgement comes into play.

Position:

If you are sitting in late position, you will usually have more access to information regarding your opponents hands and, thus, will be in a better situation to bluff. For example, if it is checked to you, the board looks favourable and there are few players in the pot.

It is crucial that you consider all of these concepts when deciding whether to bluff or not.

Key Skills

Discipline

In order to win steadily at poker, the most important skill to master is discipline. Indeed, all other skills are dependent on discipline. You must have the discipline to wait for a good hand, a good game, the right opportunity, etc. Discipline means that you do not play in games where you lack edge, that you refrain from playing hands that will get you into trouble, that you manage your money expertly and that you learn from your mistakes. It is imperative that you keep your emotions under control at all times and not go on "tilt". Do not, under any circumstances, play drunk or when you are tired or emotionally troubled. As well, you should constantly ask yourself if you are playing your best game.

Observation

If you continually study your opponents, you will learn a lot. Most of the time you spend playing you will not be involved in a hand, and you should use that time to observe your opponents. Watch how each player plays their hand and use that information against them. It is important to listen to what they say. A lot of players will tell you what kind of hand they threw away or why they played a hand in a certain way. Try to figure out what they are holding and put them on hands whether you are involved in the pot or not. Consequently, when you are playing a hand with them, you will know what their checks, bets, calls and raises mean. Pay equal attention to your own game and think of your table image at all times. You will notice that some players do not examine the game at all and, therefore, your table image is virtually non-existent when playing against them. Just as you search for tells in your opponents, look for tells in yourself. When you spot one in an opponent, consider whether or not you are displaying that very same tell.

Changing gears

A good poker player is unpredictable and is able to change gears. The way you do this is dependent on your opponents and your table image. If you have been playing solid poker and were not once caught bluffing, you will have substantial bluff equity. If you have been playing loose and bluffing a lot, you will be in a position to get paid off when you hold a good hand. When your opponents are playing tight, you should play looser and, when they are loose, you should tighten up your game. Always try to be one step ahead of your opponents. It is the ability to balance your game by changing gears at the right moment that makes you unpredictable. This is why you should occasionally advertise plays when you know you will be playing with the same players for a while, show them hands you do not normally play and mix up your play to cash in on those plays later. This is not as important when playing online since people usually are not paying as much attention to the game and also because players move around a lot. However, it should still be done under the right circumstances.

Money management

If you are unable to manage your money it is impossible to be a steady winner no matter how good you are. This means only playing in games you can afford and knowing how much you are expected to win in the long run. The reason that so many skilled players go broke is that they constantly play at limits that are not supported by their bankroll. There will be times when you are just plain unlucky for a longer period of time though you are playing well. You must have a bankroll large enough to handle these expected swings in poker. For example, you should have a bankroll of 300 times the big bet when playing Limit Holdem. If you are a winning Limit player and have 100 times the big bet in your bankroll, and you always cash out or use your winnings for other expenses and never let your bankroll grow, inevitably you will go broke.

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