Betting or raising with a weak hand to try to make opponents fold better hands.
A bluff is a bet or raise made with a hand that is unlikely to be the best if called, with the goal of making opponents fold better hands. Bluffing is what makes poker a game of strategy rather than purely a card game.
Successful bluffing depends on your opponent's tendencies, the board texture, your betting history in the hand, and your perceived range. The best bluffs tell a consistent story — your betting pattern makes sense for a strong hand.
A semi-bluff is a bet with a drawing hand that could improve to the best hand. Semi-bluffs are generally better than pure bluffs because you can win either by opponents folding or by making your hand.
You hold 7♦6♦ on a K♣J♠2♦ flop in a $5/$10 game at Aria. You missed entirely, but your opponent checked the flop, representing weakness. You fire $50 into a $80 pot. They fold. Pure bluff, zero equity, +$80 profit.
A profitable bluff needs fold equity × pot size ≥ bet size. Risking $50 to win $80 requires folds 38.5% of the time to break even. If villain folds 50%, the bluff earns +$15 per attempt. Good bluffs target scary boards where you credibly represent a big hand — a turn ace on a two-tone board, or a river that completes the obvious flush draw. Bluffing calling stations is setting money on fire; bluffing tight nits on scary runouts prints money.
<p>You hold <strong>7♦6♦</strong> on a <strong>K♣J♠2♦</strong> flop in a $5/$10 game at Aria. You missed entirely, but your opponent checked the flop, representing weakness. You fire $50 into a $80 pot. They fold. Pure bluff, zero equity, +$80 profit.</p><p>A profitable bluff needs <strong>fold equity × pot size ≥ bet size</strong>. Risking $50 to win $80 requires folds <strong>38.5%</strong> of the time to break even. If villain folds 50%, the bluff earns +$15 per attempt. Good bluffs target scary boards where you credibly represent a big hand — a turn ace on a two-tone board, or a river that completes the obvious flush draw. Bluffing calling stations is setting money on fire; bluffing tight nits on scary runouts prints money.</p>
The additional value of a bet that comes from the chance your opponent will fold.
The ratio of the current pot size to the cost of a call, used to determine if a call is profitable.
Where you sit relative to the dealer button, determining when you act in each betting round.
Betting or raising with a weak hand to try to make opponents fold better hands.
<p>You hold <strong>7♦6♦</strong> on a <strong>K♣J♠2♦</strong> flop in a $5/$10 game at Aria. You missed entirely, but your opponent checked the flop, representing weakness. You fire $50 into a $80 pot. They fold. Pure bluff, zero equity, +$80 profit.</p><p>A profitable bluff needs <strong>fold equity × pot size ≥ bet size</strong>. Risking $50 to win $80 requires folds <strong>38.5%</strong> of the time to break even. If villain folds 50%, the bluff earns +$15 per attempt. Good bluffs target scary boards where you credibly represent a big hand — a turn ace on a two-tone board, or a river that completes the obvious flush draw. Bluffing calling stations is setting money on fire; bluffing tight nits on scary runouts prints money.</p>
Top-rated platforms reviewed by our editorial team.