The Art Of Bluffing In Poker

In poker it is mandatory to bluff, but you also have to be totally honest with yourself. If you do not see yourself clearly, and recognize how others see you then you won't ever win, in poker or in life for that matter.

The trick to playing poker well is to fool others into believing the opposite of your actual position; therefore whenever you are in a position of strength you would enjoy the remainder of the table to perceive you as weak, and when you are wobbling you'd very much like to terrify the table into thinking that you hold the mortal nuts.

The problem with playing poker is that too often one ends up tricking oneself as well. You cannot admit that a game is too tough for you, that you are among the weakest players there and will ultimately lose this session. You cannot admit that you are not playing at your best and that you need to take a break. You deceive yourself into thinking that you are playing properly and that just bad luck keeps you from winning.

Every poker player has moments like this, exactly like every poker player will go on tilt once in a while. The important thing is to make certain that these moments are the exception and not the norm. You will need to take a long look into the mirror each day as as professional poker player and become your harshest critic. Acknowledge your weaknesses, play to your strengths and be honest with yourself as you lie like a televangelist to the rest of the table.

Anyone can conduct a successful bluff, but only the true winners can withstand the temptation to bluff themselves.