Low Stakes NL Bluffing

Whether you're playing in a casino, in a home game, or in front of your computer, bluffing is a part of poker. You just won't get enough "real hand over real hand" situations to make very much money playing 100% straightforward (except in really, really terrible games). However, at lower stakes, there's so much loose calling going on that bluffing might seem like a daunting challenge. Fear not, conservative player, you don't need to change your game very much to incorporate bluffing. In fact, rule 1 should suit you just fine...


Rule 1: Bluff very infrequently!

If you go crazy and start bluffing at every other pot, people will notice, and they'll start calling you with marginal hands. Bluffing is most effective when no one realizes afterward that you were bluffing. A tight table image is the key to successful bluffing, and overdoing it will quickly cost you that image. Those successful hyper-aggressive players you see on tv are NOT just haphazardly bluffing. Their bluffs are well thought out, and often rely on past histories with their opponents.


Rule 2: Know who to bluff.

Watch the players at your table. Do some of them call medium-sized bets with nothing but overcards? Do they call on draws without pot odds? These are the types of players you should avoid bluffing against. The probability of getting called is much higher. You want to bluff the tight, solid players. In addition to being able to fold, they will probably have noticed your tightness as well (if you've been playing tight), and will therefore respect your bets more than bets from loose players.


Rule 3: The less, the merrier.

In general, you should be very reluctant to bluff at a pot with more than 2 or 3 other players. There's just too good of a chance that someone will call you.


Rule 4: Bluff when no one has anything.

In better games, it's possible to get someone to fold a real hand. In low stakes games, trying to do that is lunacy. So instead, get people to fold bad hands that are still better than yours. What I mean is, look at the board, consider the players' actions thus far in the hand, and try to think about what they could possibly have that they'd call a bet with. For example, if you're the big blind, two conservative players have limped in, and the flop is 237, they will fold most of their possible hands when you bet 2/3 of the pot. You want bluffing to be a positive expected return enterprise, and it won't be unless you restrict your bluffs to smart situations in which they're likely to work.


Rule 5: Bluff in position.

A more global rule would be "play in position." When you bluff out of position, you're bluffing with less information on the other players, just like when you bet for value out of position. It's possible in certain situations (e.g. the one described in Rule 4), but don't overdo it.


Rule 6: Make sure your story adds up.

Example scenario: 5-player unraised pot, you're on the button, flop is A76 with two diamonds. Let's say you have JQ, no diamonds. Checks around. Turn is an ace, checks around, river is a two (no diamonds), and it checks to you. If you try to bluff here, it makes absolutely no sense. There is only one real hand you could have that you might've played this way (22). A thinking player will insta-call you with a seven or six, and maybe even a lower pocket pair or a two.

Avoid bluffs where, from other players' perspectives, it's extremely unlikely that you have anything.


Bonus Tip: Mix in some semi-bluffs.

It's essential that you semi-bluff from time to time. Semi-bluffing means betting with a hand that is probably behind currently, but has outs to win. If you do this occasionally, it will be very difficult for your opponents to tell whether you have a draw or a made hand. Semi-bluffing is more effective in late position, because a caller behind you prevents you from potentially getting a free river by checking on the turn, or a free showdown (if desired) by checking on the river.