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MCU poker tip: Don’t bluff too often in loose games

Obviously, opponents call too much in loose games, otherwise these wouldn’t be loose games. The main mistake opponents make in these games is to call too often.

You should expect their key mistake of calling too frequently to hurt you when you try to bluff. When you bluff, clearly you don’t want to be called. But in loose games you should expect to be.

Sure, everyone knows that, but you’d be surprised how many serious players bump their heads against poker’s wall by trying to bluff anyway. And, actually, it isn’t just the loosest games in which indiscriminate bluffing fails. It pretty much fizzles in most games, because typical opponents also call too often.

Situations

Does this mean you should never bluff? Of course not! But you need to choose rare situations where evidence strongly suggests that a bluff can yield long-range profit, if you attempted it over and over thousands of times. Otherwise — without strong evidence that a bluff will make money — simply don’t try to buy pots.

The secret is to never bluff in loose games unless you have a specific reason on a particular hand against a particular player. In tighter games, you can bluff once in a while at random, but in loose games and in most typical games, you must resolve never to bluff without a major motive.

All lose

The sad fact is that almost all players lose money for their poker lifetimes trying to bluff. So, if you did decide never to do it, you’d fare better than by bluffing at whim. Think about it. — MC

Brunson: Be patient when you teach poker
Entries by others, Tips
Favorite poker tips revisited: Part 1
General, Psychology, Tips
Favorite poker tips revisited: Part 2
General, Manipulation, Motivation, Tips
Games you can beat update and two tips
Gambling, General, Other games, POKER1 EXTRA, Strategy, Tips
Important poker tips thoroughly shuffled
POKER, Psychology, Strategy, Tips
McHaffie: MCU lesson 074 / Poker tips
Entries by others, General, Manipulation, Tells, Tips
MCU poker tip: A check can cost money
ALL (newest first), General, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: A good time to bluff
ALL (newest first), General, Manipulation, POKER, Strategy, Tells, Tips
MCU poker tip: A quick bluff is more likely to succeed
ALL (newest first), General, Manipulation, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Adjusting to wins and losses
ALL (newest first), General, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Aggression in the blinds
ALL (newest first), General, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: All-in, late in a no-limit tournament
Hold 'em, Manipulation, Strategy, Tips, Tournaments
MCU poker tip: Always be pleasant to play against
ALL (newest first), POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Are kings almost as profitable as aces?
The profit gap between these two hold 'em starting hands isn't what most players think
ALL (newest first), Hold 'em, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Ask opponents for their opinions
ALL (newest first), General, Manipulation, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Babble and bluffing
Tells, Tips
MCU poker tip: Bad news for hold ’em small pairs
Hold 'em, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Best-game shopping in poker
ALL (newest first), Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Betting a flush draw on the flop
ALL (newest first), Hold 'em, Manipulation, Tips
MCU poker tip: Betting correctly into aggressive foes
General, Tips
1 2 3 7

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Prediction*  •  Shopping  •  Zone 2*

↓ Tip collections ↓

All*  •  Gambling*  •  Life*  •  Poker*  •  Various*

↓ Contributor collections ↓

Brunson  •  Caro  •  McHaffie  •  Wiesenberg  •  Others*

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Poker1 FAQ  •  Poker-tell videos  •  Review of poker lessons

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Mike Caro

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Known as the “Mad Genius of Poker,” Mike Caro is generally regarded as today's foremost authority on poker strategy, psychology, and statistics. He is the founder of Mike Caro University of Poker, Gaming, and Life Strategy (MCU). See full bio → HERE.

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  1. What about in situations where you have a medium strong-ish hand and one opponent will pay you off if you bet into him but you’d have to bluff through an unknown opponent to get to him? Would you avoid betting or go right through them to get to the guy that’s calling too often?

    Jonathan

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