Get Caught

  Bluffing is a key skill in any variant of poker. Some would say that bluffing is the essence of poker. Some would say it's the cornerstone of a good game. Everyone will agree that bluffing is a fundamental element, and if you can't bluff well, you won't play well. In No Limit Texas Holdem, a well thought out bluff can double you in chips.  The basic point behind bluffing is to lie and not get caught. Getting called on your bluff is widely considered a failure, and for good reason. If another player doesn't buy your bluff, it's because you're not selling it. If you can't sell your bluffs, you have work to do.  There are times, though, when you might want to get caught bluffing. Sometimes, as part of setting up other bluffs, you might want to let a few get called to build up the table's confidence. You might want to give the table a false idea as to your play style. You might just want to look like a bad player.  Whatever your reason, sometimes it's in your long term interests to let one or two of your bluffs get called. Always make sure you do this when your pot investment is low in comparison to the size of your stack. That means you might let a big pot or two go, but don't let it put too big of a dent in your chips. Never sacrifice more of those than necessary.