Bluff
Action Level · Intermediate Aliases: betting air, running a bluff
A bluff is a bet made with a weak hand, aiming to make better hands fold.
What is Bluff
A bluff is not simply betting because you missed. It is taking a hand that would usually lose at showdown, representing a credible strong range, and forcing an opponent to release something better. Success depends on how much of their range can fold, whether your line is coherent, how often the sizing needs to work, and whether you block the hands that would call. Good bluffs use combinations where the opponent’s range is capped and yours has no showdown value. Against a player who will not fold, there is no need to fire for the sake of balance — in a low-fold environment, simply bluffing less earns more. Before every bet, name the stronger hand you want to fold out. If you cannot, do not press the button.
On the felt
Table6-max cash game
PositionBTN
FlopA♥K♠8♦4♠2♥
ActionRiver bet of 9BB (75% pot) holding 7♣6♣
Example
You hold 7♣6♣ on the button and the river is A♥K♠8♦4♠2♥, leaving you almost no showdown value. Betting 9BB into a 12BB pot targets folds from eights and weaker kings. Against a calling station the same bluff is wrong.
Common mistakes
- Bluffing simply because you missed. Without a specific hand you want to fold out and a credible story, betting air is donating chips.
- Believing a bluff has to be pot-sized. Sizing follows the ranges, the board and the hands you need to move, not how bold it looks.
Related terms
All-in
Going all-in means putting every remaining chip you have into the pot.
Call
Calling means matching the current bet to stay in the hand.
Check
Checking means passing the action without putting in chips when there is no bet to face.
Check-Raise
A check-raise means checking first, then raising after an opponent bets on the same street.
Continuation Bet
A continuation bet is a bet on the flop by the player who raised last before it.
Fold
Folding gives up your hand and any claim to the pot, ending your involvement in it.