A lot of people think that, just because you’re sat behind a computer screen and a display picture, bluffing is no longer a difficult skill to master. After all, it’s not like anyone can see your brow twitch or watch your eyes, so you must be golden, right? Wrong. Allow me to disabuse you of this notion rapidly, because if anything it’s just as easy to map out an opponent at the table while playing online as it is to do it in person.
There’s a strategy to this, however, and that’s crafting your image for the sake of manipulating the other players at your table into placing risky bets, overconfident in your poker casino games, until you flip the tables and completely clean them out after they go all-in to eliminate you. Whether you’re just starting out or http://da.partypoker.com/ is as familiar to you as the address your mail is delivered to, learning how to allow people to assume you’re a rock before becoming a monster is a fun and enjoyable way to bluff good or bad cards.
Becoming a rock is useful, even if you’re not used to it or you’re more of a relaxed, calling station, what-happens-happens player. Another great tactic is to manipulate a table where you’re last before it comes back to the dealer. If everyone checks, bet. All the information they’ll get in an online game is that your cards are worth it, but theirs aren’t – the fact they’re not betting yet may not always be indicative of this, but it’s a fair shot. Suddenly everyone folds bar a few who will already be playing guardedly, and you’ve got a much better chance.
Bluffing is an art form, but the difference between online and offline bluffing is like watercolour and impressionism, respectively. You’ve got to think about what data you’re giving out, and throw a few false herrings into the mix, rather than opting for a ‘poker-face’ that no one will ever see.
