Gameplay & Strategy

Top 5 ways to bluff in no limit Texas Hold’em poker

Real money gambling may seem easy to people from afar, but anyone whose livelihood depends on it would tell you it’s far from that! Talking about no limit Texas Hold‘em poker in specific, you need plenty of skill, courage and heart to succeed at it consistently. Many times you even need to bluff your way to big winnings; and a good number of players often don’t get this part right, thus losing plenty of money. Let’s take you through the top 5 ways you can bluff with a lot of success in no limit Texas Hold‘em poker.

Bluff when there are less number of opponents

A good thumb rule in this regard is to avoid bluffing in a pot wherein there are more than 2 opponents. Bluffing in this version of Texas Hold‘em poker is a lot to do with timing, and getting the timing right comes from picking the right situations. You must never bluff if there are many players involved in the game.

Bluff when you’re in position

Position is something very critical in no limit Texas Hold’em and can be used as a vital weapon in your bluffing strategy. Being in position enables you to see your opponent’s actions and play accordingly. Hence, if possible, choose to bluff when you’re in position in the game. It’s always safer to bluff after everyone else has checked.

Bluff whenever you have tight predictable opponents

Whenever you play no limit Texas Hold‘em, you’ll have some opponents that are easier to control than others. It is always easy to bluff against tight players, compared to the ones who are overly aggressive or maniacs! Those kinds will raise you just to see your actions! If you’re sure some players are predictable enough and check often, you can always bluff more often than usual.

Bluff when your opponents are expecting you to!

As you slowly make your way into the upper circles of no limit Texas Hold‘em world, you’ll eventually find yourself seated next to superior opponents. Better poker players think at an altogether different level and will place you on certain ranges. For instance, if you wish to indulge in a small bluff by stealing the blinds, you should also keep in mind that in situations when everyone’s folded and you’re in late position, raising is something that your opponents would obviously expect you to do. This can make your bluff less effective.

Set the right price

A major bluffing error a good number of no limit Texas Hold‘em players make is that they don’t get the bet size correct. For instance, if the game has reached the river stage and you’re certain that your opponent doesn’t have very good cards, while you also have none, betting a lower amount may make your opponent call, just to see your cards. Offering him/her 21/1 odds may not be a very good idea; what more, you might even get raised! A better strategy in this scenario may be to bluff by placing a higher bet.