Online Poker Cheating and Bluffing

Online poker cheating and traditional real-world poker cheating have one thing in common; they’re both for losers. Unfortunately many poker players – especially those relatively new to online poker playing  often mistake bluffing for cheating.

Bluffing at online poker is considerably different from bluffing at a real-world poker table. For one thing, bluffing over the Internet is much harder to detect than bluffing at a home poker game with the guys or at a poker room inside a casino. Needless to say, in some respects these online-offline differences can work either for or against you.

Of course when you’re the one doing the bluffing, you are in the driver’s seat and, hence, at a much greater advantage. By the same token you will find yourself at an equal disadvantage when on the receiving end of a bluffing opponent. And then there are those novice online players who, being perhaps new to the Web format, misinterpret bluffing for online poker cheating.

Poker’s Virtual Unknowns:

Those typical poker ‘tells’ that you would hopefully clue into at a real poker table, such as body language, one’s eye movements, increased perspiring etc., are all non-existent when it comes to the online poker world. In fact, your online challengers could be totally freaking out in front of their computer screens (in the comfort of their own homes) and sweating uncontrollably, yet you wouldn’t even know it. Of course this means you can do the same. Ahhhh, the marvels of online poker.

Which Begs the Question:

How can you turn what appears to be a negative situation into a positive one; one in which you can bluff most effectively in order to gain (and maintain) the upper hand? An excellent question indeed. To answer it, below are some fundamental strategies that shall enable you to become a more successful bluffer, as well as a better reader of those hustlers indulging in online poker cheating:

1. Beware of bluffing whenever there is a large pot to be won. If you bluff late in a hand, the pot might have grown so much that your opponent calls, just because he’s getting value for his money. Thus always be aware of the size of the pot.

2. Only bluff from time to time and do not get into a habit of it. Should you get caught bluffing you’ll have little chance of getting away with it a second time. Bluffing should only be done at the most opportune times. Serial bluffers, it should be noted, often wind up being suspected of online poker cheating, so exercise caution.

3. Never ever bluff against desperate gamblers. Bluffing a player on a short stack will probably result in a ‘call.’ Should the short-stacked opponent be facing off against you exclusively, he’ll likely assume that doubling up is worth the risk, regardless of what your hand may contain.

4. Bluff only in position. If you are seated at a 10-player Sit ‘n Go tournament and are first to place your wager, do not bluff. The more players placing their bets after you, the greater the chance that you’ll be called. Thus you’d be wise to save your bluffs for when you’re in late position.