NoMercy Monday: Tips on Bluffing Part 3

In this strategy series, CoinPoker’s Chief Community Manager and pro poker player Isabelle “NoMercy” Mercier walks you through the basics of the game. Each No Mercy Monday comes with expert advice on how to play,  and it all starts with starting hands.

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Before the holidays started closing this chapter on bluffing by covering how to induce a bluff and some general tips on mastering the art which we continued in the second part here. But before we move on, here are some final words about bluffing to help you nail this tricky art form.

Just a Little More Bluffing Advice

Always think before you act in poker. Especially before throwing your chips in the middle of the pot with air! I have added a few more recommendations below that I suggest you keep in mind before attempting to bluff.

[Continued from part two which you can read here]

#8 Always evaluate the size of your bet

While over bets are often necessary to bluff with air they are more detectable and you may get called out by doing so. On the other hand, small bets are often exactly what they are; “too small”, and a wide range of medium hands may call you.

If you bet only 10% of the pot, you will get called every time you bluff, and you will miss out on value every time that you do have a real hand.”

Pot sized bets are usually a winner, and that applies even when you are holding a good hand. If you bet only 10% of the pot, you will get called every time you bluff, and you will miss out on value every time that you do have a real hand. 

#9 Consider your position when bluffing

Try your bluffs mainly when you are last to act and have had a chance to see all the actions of opponents before you.

However, there is an exception to that rule as you may want to vary your play from time to time by bluffing out of position against an educated player who can be convinced that your hand is strong since you seem afraid of nothing by betting or raising out of position. 

#10 Know when to quit

Do not push in all your chips in an ultimate and desperate move to win a pot. You risk busting out of the tournament or losing all your chips in cash games, and most of the times this is not worth it.

Stay patient and know that you will find other spots to win back your chips!

Good luck at the tables and don’t forget to join me twice a week in the Hubble Bubble tournaments to practice your skills and try to win my 10,000 CHP bounty! 

– Isabelle “No Mercy” Mercier