It can be hard to tell when someone at your table is bluffing - but the hardest part can be pulling it off against the other players that don't have much at stake to start with in a low limit game. This is what makes it so much harder to win a low limit tournament - or even place in the top 10 - but it can be a very fun and challenging experience that allows you to build your poker skills before playing for higher limits. It will take some time, but with practice you'll be able to steal those big pots when it matters most!

Let's start by giving you an example of when NOT to bluff. You're in middle position and have called one raise to see the flop with K 10 suited - there are still 6 other players in the pot and the flop comes A A K... no matter what the players in front of you do - now is definitely not the time to try and bluff - even if you do have the big stack on the table. Chances are someone has another Ace if there are still 6 players in the pot. Just make a small bet here and see what happens. Even another King on the turn - you're probably just drawing dead.

Now - let's say you're holding A 10 with 3 other people in the pot. Everyone has called only the blinds and the flop comes Q 3 6. Player 1 checks, player 2 bets, you decide to raise and have 2 players call. The next card is a K and the first player bets... is now a good time to try and bluff the pot? Well, not really - anyone with Q's probably calls any size bet, and who knows what else someone has. So much as a pair of 3's and you're beat!

Now, a better time to attempt a bluff is after you've been at the same table for a while and have hada chance to establish yourself as a better than average player with the other players at the table. It's also nice to have a fairly large chip stack compared to the other players in case you do get called. Now, in a later position with everyone checking the flop which came 3 6 4, you make a bet of 6 times the large blind. Now the other players must stop to think - did you catch 2 pair? 3 of a kind? a straight? or are you going on a bluff?

With enough practice, you should be able to win 80 - 90% of the hands in this situation! Be careful however if you are called here - and don't get too nuts - if someone re-raises you here you should fold the hand - every time. There's nothing worse than being caught bluffing - other than calling a re-raise and getting beat out of twice as many chips on a complete bluff! **This article is just a brief summary of the information available at out Free Online Poker School - everything you need to know about playing Texas Hold 'em Poker! Check it out at www.UltimatePokerResource.com See you at the final table!

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