Now before you go and get all excited thinking this post is about how to bluff, think again. We're going to take the time to talk about why, at the lower level games, you SHOULDN'T bluff. This begs the question, what do we consider a low level game? Without having stats we guess that 80% of the players at any given site play below the $20 buy-in so we'll use buy-ins below $20 to define what we consider low level games. You might think that $10 or $50 games are low level and we don't disagree, but for the sake of this blog post we're going with $20.
First off, we understand that bluffing is part of the game. It can be an effective weapon in a poker player's arsenal and besides, it's a great feeling when you can pull it off and take down a large pot, or any pot for that matter.
The main problem with bluffing at the low level games is that the skill level to fully understand and appreciate a bluff is just not there.
The other problem with low level bluffing is that most players at that level are inexperienced players (not all, but most) and they get into the mind set that "Nobody is going to take my $ by bluffing me off a pot." These players go on tilt way too easily and way too often - especially when they see some donkey pull off a bluff. This only fuels the donkey/bluffer more and when they do pick up a legit hand, they get paid off by the guy on tilt trying to play sheriff. It can be a vicious cycle!
Another thing to consider is that most players at this level have no problem chasing flushes and straights down to the river. Some will even chase 2nd, 3rd pr or A-rag. Consider this, who's bluffing between the guy who is hoping to hit the miracle card on the turn/river or the guy who holds nothing? Technically both hands are useless, which then leaves one of them (or more depending on how many were in the pot) with fewer chips than they started. Had they played a little smarter and got out of the pot when the odds were against them, they would be better off.
Now consider this, if you added up the winnings from all the times you bluffed successfully, then subtracted all the times you bluffed and lost, where would you be? We guess most low level players would be in the negative. So why do so many players do it? Our guess is probably because it's fun and exciting and money isn't always the most important issue at the low level games. Besides, to the uninitiated, poker is about all-ins and outrageous bluffs and luck.
The other side is that if you played only decent/premium hands and never bluffed where would you be? That is hard to tell, as odds play a huge factor, but we think most beginners would be better off taking this approach. Now you say "if I don't bluff at the lower levels, where do I learn to do it before playing in the higher levels?" Good point, here's what we think. Bluffing is not so much as taking 2 random cards and playing them to the end. Bluffing is more like taking 2 random cards and making your opponents believe you have a monster. It's all about table image and knowing when you get resistance from your bluff, you need to get out. If you spend anytime watching pros play on TV (more than live or online as you can't see the hole cards), pay attention to how they act when they are 'bluffing' and compare it to when they are not 'bluffing'. Can you tell the difference? Most people can't, and that is the key to bluffing successfully. Think about this, how many times in a low level game do you think someone bluffs? Now compare those results from a high level game. We would be willing to bet (not bluffing here) that the numbers are far greater in the low level games. So even though it is fun and exciting, top level players don't bluff often and that should tell you something.
So if you want to play better poker and move into the higher level games where bluffing is much more appreciated, then learn to play solid and consistent fundamental poker first. Learn your outs and your odds then play accordingly. Over time, you will see, you will be able to take advantage of the bluffers/donkeys and become profitable at this game.
No comments:
Post a Comment