If you are learning to play poker then, at some stage, you will need to add the art of bluffing into your game. Bluffing, put simply, is the act of representing that you are holding a stronger hand than you actually are. It is a technique which is performed better – and therefore more often used – by some players than others.

Poker player who looks a little bit like Madonna

• Use the ‘semi-bluff’ first when learning to play poker. A semi-bluff involves falsely representing that you have an excellent hand, in cases when you have quite a good hand. Take the case where 3 hearts, including the 10, have appeared on the flop and you are holding another 10. If you make a large raise, you are representing to the other players that you hold 2 hearts and have a flush. In actual fact, you have a pair of 10s, which is a much weaker hand but not an outrageous bluff. You will be able to draw some confidence from the fact that you have a hand which could win and this might be sensed and misread by other players as the flush. Also, if you are called, it is not entirely clear whether you have made a bluff and your competitors might be left confused by the type of player you are.
• If you have been recently caught bluffing, take care with future plays. Remember that other players will have now formed an opinion of the type of player you are, which might make them more likely to call you on a future bluff. Note, however, that you might also be able to turn this into a positive by fleecing them for more money when you have a very strong hand.
• When learning to play poker you will encounter many different styles of play. On a new table you will find it helpful to assess your competitors before deciding whether to bluff. You are more likely to get away with a bluff on a table where most of the players are tight and more easily frightened off by a raise. However, good tight players will obviously play strong hands so try to assess the confidence of the table before deciding to bluff.
• Practice bluffing skills at a poker room where the initial stakes are very low, or where you can play tournaments for free, for example at 888 Poker.
• Consider whether you might have a ‘tell’ and if so, whether you are able to conceal it. Another part of learning to play poker is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your own game. Some players are wonderfully intuitive about reading other players. If you think you are giving something away in your body language the following might help:
  • Consider wearing sunglasses to the table if you are allowed. If not, on big hands stare directly down on the table (regardless of whether you are bluffing or not).
  • Play online poker rooms to largely discount the effect of the ‘tell’.
• Bluffs can be made more effectively if you are nearer the end of the betting round, when you have assessed other players’ confidence. Remember this when learning to play poker.

To become an expert poker player you need to understand bluffs and common poker tells.  Alex Mayer provides free unbiased poker advice including psychology  of poker on the First Poker Tips Poker blog