Poker Pros Must Master Bluffs and Reading Them

One of the biggest factors that separates the poker pro men from the boys is the art of bluffing. This would be not only successfully executed bluffs but also developing the ability to read them. Poker Pros are going to bluff and it’s up to you to stop them and to not allow them to get away with it.

There are some basic facts that go into successfully mastering bluffs. The first is pure logic; most players will not bluff with a potentially good hand that has the ability to stand on its own in a showdown. Bluffs are attempted with hands that have little or no chance of surviving in a show down.

In order to successfully read bluffs you must quickly pick up on your opponent’s playing characteristics and as much of his style as is possible in the shortest amount of time.

Beyond that you should evaluate your own hand in the situation as it is a factor and a tell as to if your opponent is running a bluff or not. The better your own hand, the weaker the opposition bluff will be.

Another thing to keep in mind is that there are simply far more poker players now than ever before. The quality of players is often suspect and many of the newer ones like to imitate what they see on television, which is nothing but a spliced highlight tape of the biggest moments in a tournament that feature a lot of bluffing.

The best bluffs are rare, big, and perfectly timed for maximum effect.