There are a few tricks that when mastered, can make a difference between winning a little and winning a lot. A player usually bluffs when the hand he has is not enough to value bet and not strong enough to beat the opponent's value betting range but has showdown value against bets.
Bluffing is profitable in low stakes online games against loose-aggressive opponents. It's easier to catch a bluff when a player makes a call with a weaker hand to value bet and if his opponent is bluffing. But choosing when to bluff and when not to, is a tricky decision.
If you never bluff, you cannot win at poker, and if you don't attempt to catch a bluff, then you cannot be a great player. Here are some tips and tricks to help decide when an opponent is bluffing:
If the opponent falls into the group of those that never bluff or extremely tight with an unwillingness to step out of line, then you should not bother making a call. Such an opponent will not bet on the river. On the other hand, if your opponent is a loose-aggressive player and is more than willing to bet and raise with good hand or with nothing at all, then it is easy to catch such bluffs.
If you recognize your opponent's patterns with bets and bluffs, you can use that information to your advantage. If your opponents routinely bets significant amounts, with strong hand, that would not seem a right decision to call. But if the player likes to make small value bets and eventually moves to big bets, that would indicate a bluff.
Poker players tend to act different when they have a big hand than when they are bluffing. Mostly in low and mid-stakes games players tend to rush when their decision is straightforward and slower when their decision is hard. Spotting such players is profitable as they purposely attempt to mislead you with the speed of their actions.
Sometimes player's actions may not seem to make sense, which indicates a good chance for a bluff. A player who is very upset by a bad bet will want instant compensation. He will play in a way to get his money back as soon as possible. These are players titling who you need to keep a lookout. (Titling will be discussed in detail in another article). Players who are tilting, often make big bluffs. They play carelessly and take huge risks. You should ideally induce a player on tilt to make big bluffs so that you can trap him.
If you estimate that your opponent is bluffing and you have a hand that can beat a bluff, then calling that bluff would be a profitable decision. In a nutshell, if the situation at the table meets all your criteria for bluff catching, make that call.
To maximize poker profits, you must develop the skill of catching bluffs. Hence, be smart, because whether playing online or live poker, not all players bluff and most players bluff very little. When there are many opponents, you will realize that their bets and raises are not bluff but made for value.
What more tips? Learn how to become a poker pro!
