The Art Of Bluffing In Poker
In poker it is mandatory to bluff, but you also have to be
completely honest with yourself. If you don't see yourself
clearly, and recognize how others see you then you will never
win, in poker or in life for that matter.
The key to playing poker well is to deceive others into thinking
the opposite of your actual position; so when you are in a
position of strength you would like the rest of the table to
perceive you as weak, and when you are wobbling you would very
much like to terrify the table into believing that you hold the
mortal nuts.
The problem with playing poker is that too often one ends up
deceiving oneself as well. You cannot admit that a game is too
tough for you, that you are one of the weakest players there and
will ultimately lose this session. You cannot admit that you are
not playing at your best and that you should take a break. You
deceive yourself into believing that you are playing correctly
and that only bad luck prevents you from winning.
Every poker player has moments like this, just like every poker
player will go on tilt once in a while. The key is to make sure
that these moments are the exception and not the norm. You need
to take a long look into the mirror every 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 run a successful bluff, but only the true winners can
resist the temptation to bluff themselves.