A Bad Time for a Bluff

  A lot of people will suggest that experience is the best teacher. Of course none of these people probably enjoyed classroom sessions with the randy teacher/model Debra LaFave. If they had, they may have a whole new perspective on what being a good teacher is. Unfortunately, Ms. LaFave doesn't coach people in the finer points of poker. This means that we have to fall back on the lessons that experience have to teach us; or better yet, take our lessons from other people's experiences. That way we don't have to breach any unnecessary pain barriers on our own.  One lesson that newer players should take with them when they head to the tables regards the practice of bluffing, specifically when not to do it.  Let's say you have just concluded the post flop betting and the turn is looming. There are still four people hanging around in the hand. This is not the time to test your bluffing skills. In the later betting rounds bluffing into multi-way pot is generally a worthless endeavor. You are not going to scare everyone out of the pot with your bluff, and whoever has the best hand will probably be reluctant to give up their cards.  If you are bluffing, this means you probably don't have the best hand of the players remaining in the hand. If you are in the later betting rounds, using a bet as a bluff is simply throwing good money after bad. You would actually get more value out of checking, and seeing if the rest of the table will let you see the next card for free, or simply folding.