Mess with their heads

Mess with Their Heads
How to get a psychological edge over your poker opponents...

Poker is a game where the psychological edge can be a deciding factor. When you arrive at a table for a poker game with people that you don't know, a big bluff can be a good way to start when you're digging in for the long haul. If you're up against someone in the showdown and they're struggling to make up their mind and you succeed into bluffing the into a fold, let everyone at the table know it was a bluff when the game's over. This will mess with their heads and have them second guessing every time you go after the pot.

Equally, if you happen to be the victim of an outrageous bluff, don't let the loss get to you emotionally. Professional poker players call that going on tilt or steaming. There's nothing other players like to see more than a player going on tilt. They'll gather like jackals at feeding time. Once you lose focus and your mind is snared by a previous mistake your game can become seriously unglued. If you can't find the discipline to let it go, take some time out until you can or you'll pay with your stack.

Very nice post indeed some good advice Thanks for the post again.

[arjonius]

What exacty is showing that you made a big bluff supposed to accomplish after it has already been successful? It it encourages them to call you in the future because they'll think you're bluffing again, then you just removed bluffing from your arsenal.

[jedimoose]

Im with Arjonious on this 1. If it worked you want to be able to this until someone calls you down. Might get away with it three or 4 times b4 you go back to playing tight. I never see any benefit to showing your bluffs, someone will catch you eventually and you get same result. Only time i show is quads or straight/royal flushes, and even then not always.

[dangermouse420]

Always an interesting subject for debate and I recently heard Daniel Negreanu talking about it. His opinion was that at a low stakes game he would show a bluff so as to generate some action whereas he wouldn`t show cards if he had the nuts.

Yes you might lose the opportunity to steal a couple of pots by showing but the intent is to get someone to call when you have a very solid hand so you get paid off bigtime. Then when that happens your opponents are off balance the next time you make a big play. They might want to call because they have an idea you`re bluffing but at the same time they don`t want to pay you off if you have a monster hand.

[mad4cards]

Originally Posted by dangermouse420

Always an interesting subject for debate and I recently heard Daniel Negreanu talking about it. His opinion was that at a low stakes game he would show a bluff so as to generate some action whereas he wouldn`t show cards if he had the nuts.

Yes you might lose the opportunity to steal a couple of pots by showing but the intent is to get someone to call when you have a very solid hand so you get paid off bigtime. Then when that happens your opponents are off balance the next time you make a big play. They might want to call because they have an idea you`re bluffing but at the same time they don`t want to pay you off if you have a monster hand.

That's the most I've heard you say all weekend.... tee hee.

[baz146]

Pro poker players rarely show hands. If you have bluffed why let the know? I have seen players loss matches they should have won by letting others know their style..

I have found that for the most part, when a player tells you what their hand is, they are usually telling the truth. Need further proof, check out Jamie Gold in the 06 WSOP

I will never show a bluff. I may show good hands if the other players thinks I'm bluffing. I want them to believe I always have a hand when I bet big.

I use this strategy often...i very seldom bluff but if i sense a player is weak i will bluff him off and then show my bluff....then i clam up and when i get a big hand players remember the big bluff and not the 20 folds in a row after that