GGPOKER

In regular games, finding good bluffing hands is incredibly challenging. A successful bluff depends on understanding theoretical principles and adjusting to your opponent’s tendencies. There’s often a significant gap between what you *should* do in theory and what you *actually* should do in practice. Therefore, we’ll first analyze bluff-candidate selection theoretically, then provide practical ways to apply it in-game.

**Why Bluffing Is So Hard** Bluffing is difficult because mistakes can be costly, leading to significant losses.

To execute a bluff effectively, you need both theoretical knowledge and extensive table experience. During play, try to gauge your opponent’s actions: - Do they slow down in certain spots? - Do they always call on the river? This information is crucial for decision-making. For example: - Against a *calling station*, you should rarely bluff. - Against a *tight-passive* player, you should bluff frequently.GGPoker Finally, bluffing requires courage. Every good bluff needs a "trigger pull." If you believe the bluff is correct, commit to it—then review feedback from peers or coaches afterward.

When to Bluff vs. When to Give Up Let’s examine two bluffing examples: one good, one bad.

**Example 1: Bad Bluff** **Board:** 10♦ 9♦ 2♥ 3♠ 3♥ **Your Hand:** Q♦ J♦ You raised on the button, and the big blind called. You c-bet the flop and turn, but by the river, you’ve missed all draws. **Should you bluff here?** *Theoretically, **no**.* Your busted draws block many hands you’d want your opponent to fold (e.g., failed flush/straight draws). Instead, you’d prefer hands like 7♣ 8♣, which don’t block potential folds. **Example 2: Good Bluff** **Board:** Q♥ 7♦ 2♣ 10♠ 9♥ **Your Hand:** A♦ J♥

You raised preflop, c-bet the flop and turn, and now hold only Ace-high on the river.

**Should you bluff here?** *Theoretically, **yes**.* - You don’t block their potential folds (e.g., missed straight/flush draws). - You *do* block strong hands like KJ that might call. - Your range includes value hands (e.g., QQ, TT, 99) that the big blind is unlikely to have. **Theory vs. Practice** While theory is useful, having a "good bluffing hand" doesn’t always mean you should bluff. **Key Adjustments for Low Stakes:** - Players underfold on the river. - Avoid bluffing large pots where opponents likely have strong hands. - Target small pots for bluffs; play cautiously in big ones. - Don’t try to bluff opponents off top pair—focus on exploiting weaker ranges. Bluffing is an art. Master the theory, adapt to your opponents, and pick your spots wisely.