Bluff
Betting or raising with a weak hand to try to make opponents fold better hands. A fundamental poker strategy.
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What Is Bluff?
Bluffing is one of the defining elements of poker strategy, allowing skilled players to win pots even without the best hand by representing strength through bet sizing, timing, and story consistency. Effective bluffing requires understanding fold equity, opponent tendencies, and board texture to choose spots where opponents are likely to fold. A pure bluff has little to no chance of winning at showdown, distinguishing it from a semi-bluff, which retains some equity through outs.
Examples
A player bets the river with a missed flush draw, representing a made flush to fold out a better hand.
A tight player rarely bluffs, so when they suddenly bet big on a scary board, opponents tend to fold more readily.
Strategy Tips
Choose bluffing spots where your betting story is credible given the board texture and previous action, rather than bluffing randomly. Prioritize bluffs that use hands with good blockers to your opponent's strongest holdings, which reduces the chance of being called. Consider your opponent's tendencies -- bluffing rarely works against calling stations, so save your bluffs for opponents capable of folding. Balance your bluffing frequency with value bets to remain unpredictable and avoid becoming exploitable.