Picking off a bluff may be one of the most difficult things to do in any form of poker especially a tournament. Many times you will face a bet for your tournament life. If you call and are beat, you are out of the tournament. There are two main parts to successfully picking off a bluff. First, you have to observe your opponent closely and remember his tendancies. How does he play strong hands? What types of boards is he scared to bet? When has he showed weakness in the past? All of these questions will eventually come together to give you a read. Trusting your read is the second part of picking off a bluff. Many players are playing above their bankroll nd are unable to make a big call. Playing at a level where you can trust your read is very important. If you have a read on your opponent that your small pair is good, you should follow it.

Playing above your bankroll forces you to play a more conservative style of poker. By playing conservative, you are giving a huge edge to your more aggressive opponents. They take advantage of players who are unwilling to play marginal hands. Most times everyone at the table has a marginal hand. Always play at a level where you don't really care about the money at the table. If you really care about losing any money, you shouldn't be playing. Develop your focus for observing opponents and trust your reads. It will take some time to fully trust your reads. Over time, your instinct will be dead on and it will seem like you are playing your opponents with their hands face up. This skill is way more rewarding than any amount of money you could ever win playing poker.

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