Bluffing in Limit Games: It's All about Timing (Part 2)

In my last article, I explained how you can bluff your opponents by representing more powerful hands than you’re actually holding. In this post, I’ll mention a few more techniques that I use to help me bluff effectively.

1) I select my targets carefully. By this, I don’t necessarily mean the loose-passive “calling stations.” That strategy you want to save for when you actually have solid hands. When bluffing in Limit games, I go after the tight-passive “rocks” that won’t call or raise my bets unless they have the nuts. That way I can know with some certainty that my bet will give me reliable information about my opponents’ hands.

In addition, I’ll bluff players that are too aggressive, but only under certain circumstances. First of all, I must develop a fairly tight table image. If their betting pattern makes it obvious that they were bluffing and missed, then I will bluff back at them. It’s surprising how often they will fold.

I also go after the players that are weak in other senses. The players that seem depressed, that have been losing a lot, that are drunk, that are otherwise distracted, etc. are just waiting to give up their chips. Someone that’s been losing will expect to continue losing. Players that are drunk or distracted are less likely to notice the tells you may give while bluffing.

2) I bluff with hands that have a strong potential for improvement. For instance, if someone bets into me and I put him on just a pair of Jacks, I may raise him with a smaller pair if I have an overcard as a kicker. After this, I will take the lead in the betting.

Also, if you are holding a pair of 5s with an ace, king, or queen, pairing your kicker will make your hand a lot stronger. This is a highly aggressive play, and will lose most of the time if you're called down. But the times that it works should more than compensate. Many times, they will fold when you fire your second bullet on the next betting round. Occasionally, the next card will actually improve your hand and your bet won’t even be a bluff. Your opponent will call you a donk and curse at you, but you are really just executing a textbook semi-bluff.

3) I bet blind. If you ever go to a casino, you'll notice that players will sometimes bet before the next card is dealt, or bet without looking at the next card. This is called "betting blind" or "betting in the dark," and it implies strength. Betting blind is a signal to the other players that you've already completed your hand and don't need to improve to win the pot. You're saying that your hand is so strong already that it doesn't matter what other cards come. This play is usually reserved for 5-card hands such as straights, flushes, full houses or better.

Because the play implies so much strength, it can be used effectively as a bluff. Your opponents will wonder if you have already made your hand. They will check and recheck the board to try and put you on a hand. Often their imaginations are much worse than the reality of what you're holding, and they'll either muck or become very passive. Some savvy players will wonder if your move is a typical "strong means weak" bluff, but if you sell the bluff well it becomes difficult for them to justify a call.

If you're playing online rather than in a live game, the software will not allow you to bet before you see your next card. But you can make a similar move, by betting or raising immediately as the action reaches you. You can accomplish this by using the "Bet/Raise Any" buttons provided by most online poker rooms. You may be surprised how often other players will fold, or seriously consider folding just because you bet so fast.

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So try these techniques out, when you’re in an experimental mode. They work in No Limit and Pot Limit as well. Whenever possible, combine the tactics I’ve described in this mini-series. You’ll find that the effectiveness of your bluffs will increase exponentially.