The right seat at the poker table.

Is it important to choose the right position when you play poker? Do you spend time on choosing the right seat at the poker table? For sure, it is an important aspect. And it is often ignored by many players.

To select a right position is one of the most important aspects you should consider in a poker game, especially if you’re playing Texas Hold’em poker, because your location remains fixed for the whole game round. And, for example, in 7-card stud a game position often depends on the cards and on poker hands order. Continue reading →

What is a poker bluff?

If you ask poker players to define “bluff”, most of them will tell you that poker bluffing is a bet on a weak hand with hope that other players with better hands will fold. Without bluffing poker would be a boring game because in this case after the trade the best hand would always win. But there are winning players and those who lose. And often poker bluff, or rather the possibility that a player is bluffing is enough to single out professional poker gamblers. Bluffing in poker – is just a form of trickery that is an integral part of a winning poker strategy.

In addition, if your opponents always knew what you have on hand, it would be very difficult to beat them. Bluffing in poker – is a necessary skill for any player.

Different types of poker bluffing.

Bet or raise with an inferior hand –is only one form of bluffing poker. But it is not the only one. There is also a reverse situation. It is much better for the player to show a slow play having a good combination to mislead opponents, rather than to bet with a weak hand.

Another form of a bluff poker- is a bet or raise on a cheap round of trade, in order to get a free card later, when the bets are doubled.

And then there’s “semi-bluff”. This term was introduced by a well-known poker theorist David Sklansky, who gave it the following definition: a semi-bluff – a bet with the hand, which will not be the best hand at the moment if your opponent calls, but however it has enough chances to win.
With the semi-bluff, in contrast to a bluff with a bad hand, a player has two opportunities to win the pot. His or her opponent can think that bluffing player has a stronger hand and will fold. And if he calls, a bluffing poker player can still strengthen his or her hand and win.

The importance of poker bluffing.

Some players never bluff. But for sure such people are “few and far between”. Once you have figured out these players, the game against them will be easy. If they bet when all cards are on the table, you can easily make the fold. Of course, if you do not have a very strong hand. In this case you should raise.
Others are “inveterate liars”. When they bet, you have to call if only you have a good hand. Though those who bluff all the time also have a chance to get a good combination, the fact that they bluff too often will facilitate your decision to join the game. By calling you win much more money for a long period of a play, than you save while folding all the time.