No Mercy Monday: General Tips on Bluffing

In this strategy series, CoinPoker’s Chief Community Manager and pro poker player Isabelle “No Mercy” 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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Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been diving into the fascinating topic of bluffing. Last week we concluded the chapter on inducing a bluff with a second part here. This week we will conclude this fun series on the art of bluffing with some general tips.

NoMercy’s General Bluffing Tips 

Always think before you act in poker. Especially before throwing your chips into the pot with nothing but air! I have prepared a series of general recommendations to keep in mind before attempting to bluff.

These tips will help you steer clear of the most common bluffing mistakes and maximize your chances of stealing the pot.

#1 Consider the number of players

The fewer players there are, the bigger your chances are of succeeding. Ideally, you will attempt a bluff against one, single opponent. A bluff may also work in special cases against two opponents, but most of the time, this will be the maximum. You should not try to bluff at a pot when more than 3 players are still in action. 

#2 Evaluate your table image and credibility

Good table image and credibility are essential elements for a bluff to work. If a player is tight, he will get more respect when he bets as opposed to a player that is loose and aggressive, who will get called much more often. 

#3 Be aware of the frequency of your bluffs

If you have been caught with your hand in the cookie jar ten times in a row, it may not be a good time to try a bluff.

#4 Know your opponents and their levels of comprehension

Are they able to see the hand that you are trying to represent? If not, there is no point trying to bluff. However, some novice players will stick with their hands until the end, no matter what.

Don’t waste your time and your chips by trying to bluff at them.”

They will never let go of their pair of tens, even if there are two overcards, a visible straight, and an evident flush on the board. Don’t waste your time and your chips by trying to bluff at them.

Stay tuned next week for the continuation of these guidelines on bluffing, and don’t forget to join me twice a week in the Hubble Bubble tournaments to practice your skills and try to win my 5000 CHP bounty! 

– Isabelle “No Mercy” Mercier