7 Easy Steps to No-Limit Hold’em Success — Step 5: Pull the Trigger

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The Mission: Get you winning in your local $1-$2 no-limit game with 7 easy steps.

Welcome to Step 5: Pull the Trigger. If you haven’t done so already, make sure to check out the previous articles in the series:

• Step 1: Play Tight
• Step 2: Don’t Play Out of Position
• Step 3: Don’t Overcommit in Small Pots
• Step 4: Big Pots for Big Hands

Pull the Trigger

Bluffing is the most mystical aspect of no-limit. It captures the imagination of everyone, not just poker players. Indeed, it seems the less people know about poker, the more they think poker is all about bluffing.

Bluffing isn’t the be-all-and-end-all, but it’s a very important no-limit skill. This article will hit the high points.

The Guidelines

A lot of bluffing in no-limit is “smallball.” You throw out a modest bet to try to pick up a pot no one else wants. A continuation bet after the flop can be an example of such a bluff. So are position bets, bets from the blinds after a checked flop, and so forth. If no one else seems to want a pot, often you should toss something out there and see if you take the pot down.

This article concentrates on big bluffs. I can’t tell you when your opponent will fold, but I can give you some general practical guidelines for getting the most out of your bluffs.

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