Q asked Phil Gordon, co-host of Bravo network’s “Celebrity Poker Showdown” (8 p.m. Tuesdays) and author of “Poker: The Real Deal,” how to bluff in the game.
“First, make sure your opponent is capable of folding. Some people are not bluffable. That’s the No. 1 rule in bluffing. Second, make sure your hands can’t win without a bluff. I don’t suggest bluffing with medium-strength hands. Only do it with very weak hands. Another rule is, bluff an amount of money that is appropriate. You don’t want to bluff with too much or too little. I’d say three-quarters of the size of the pot is good. A bluff is not a bluff unless it’s gonna hurt your opponent. Another one is to make sure you’ve played the hand in a strong way up to the point where you’re bluffing.”
And how to tell if your opponent might be bluffing?
“People who are acting strong are compensating for lack of strength in their hand. An aggressive motion in bets, or openly aggressive posture, these are “tells” and signs of weakness. Another tell is that players who are close or hunched up over the table are weak; those leaning back in their chair are generally very strong. If a player makes a big bet and leans over the table, I would be more inclined to call them. By getting close to me, they’re trying to intimidate me with their physical presence; by getting away they’re trying to make it as easy as possible for me to put chips in the pot. Also, a player who looks directly at you is generally weak. One who looks away is generally strong.”
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