Exploiting someone who is bluffing is an easy way to make money at the poker table, but unfortunately, many people miss out on this opportunity because they fail to pick up on the most subtle signs of a bluff. Sometimes, you will need to change your playing to adapt to a bluff, and to do that you must first observe the other player’s style and strategy. Here are some signs to look for:
- The player is caught with a losing hand pretty often
- They start betting more money, more often
- They adhere closely to a betting pattern
- They brag a lot and are cocky
When a player is caught in a bluff: Seeing the same person getting their bluff called, repeatedly, means that this is an excellent opportunity for you to draw them in and win some of their cash. If they start betting more often, or betting higher amounts, take notice. If they are betting more often than it seems possible for them to win, most likely they are bluffing. Even if they did show a pair (odds of that are about one in eight), the odds say that it is either a bottom or middle pair.
If the player is closely sticking to a betting pattern, betting even after everyone else has checked, that means one of two things – they are either really lucky, or they are bluffing. Here is how you handle that situation. You either check them, or bluff them right back by raising the ante again. You will make them think that you have the hand to beat, when really you are just calling their bluff.
When they seem to be proud of the fact that they are bluffing, you can spot them a mile away. This type of player will happily show their bluffed hand to the rest of the table after they have prevailed. Do not let it get to you. Simply congratulate them on a hand well played, and think of how you can use their bluffing behavior to your advantage. After all, you do not want to get so flustered that you start making mistakes, and you certainly do not want to make them tighten up their playing style.
When you are playing live poker, it can definitely help to have a good memory. You should remember the past few hands, to be able to spot a bluff and use the correct strategy. When you are playing online, you can strategize with one of the multitude of poker calculators that are available. These tools record statistics, then they create a betting pattern. This makes it easier to find the bluffer in your midst.
If you play with someone who bluffs often, you should try to draw him or her in and get him or her to bet more. Bluffers play on the other players’ weaknesses. This is where you need to have a solid anti-bluff strategy. Do not show your strength in the beginning, because that will discourage them from bluffing you. Let them get started, long enough to read them. Eventually, you will be able to outmaneuver them and their chips will be yours!
Read some of the mistakes that beginners are known to make during the game of poker at http://www.internetpokerguide.com/internet-poker-basics/beginners-mistakes.