When you play poker, you always have the option of bluffing, or making other players think you have a good hand when in reality, it's not that great. While too much bluffing can make other players easily see through your charade, if you learn how to bluff properly, you can use it to your advantage to win more often.

Bluffing with a Semi-Good Hand

One of the best techniques to use in poker is to bluff with a semi-good hand. This means a hand that may not be strong when you start off, but that you expect to be strong by the river. If you start out betting strong, other players will assume you naturally have a good hand. Those who have a good hand already will probably see your bets and potentially raise you. If you end up with a better hand than those players by the river, then the strategy pays off and you win the pot.

Bluffing with a Weak Hand

Another strategy is to bluff with a weak hand. If you are normally a tighter player and you bluff, other players will assume you have a good hand. If you bet strong after the flop other players will most likely fold, leaving you with a good win.

Learning how to bluff properly is important because it's one of the strategies that makes for an excellent poker player. Even experienced players that you sit with won't be able to determine whether you actually have a strong hand or you're bluffing.