Betting actions
Bluff in poker
Definition
A bet or raise made with a weak hand to make better hands fold.
A bluff wins only when the opponent folds, so it needs fold equity. The break-even point depends on bet size: a bet of half the pot needs to work about a third of the time.
Good bluffs tell a believable story: the bet should look like the line a strong hand would take. Choose bluffing hands that have some chance to improve or that block the opponent's calling hands.
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Related terms
- Semi-bluffA bet or raise with a hand that is not yet best but can improve to a strong hand if called.
- Fold equityThe extra value you gain from a bet or raise because your opponent may fold and give up the pot.
- Value betA bet made with a hand that is likely best, intended to be called by worse hands.
- Hero callA call with a marginal hand against a big bet because you believe the opponent is bluffing.