One of the main reasons people play poker is due to the thrill of the bluff. Have you ever bet your opponent out of the pot when you had absolutely no hand? Bluffing is one of the toughest skills in poker because it requires us to play without a hand. It takes a certain type of person to put his money on the line when he doesnt hold a good hand. In order to successfully bluff, you have to have a read on your opponent. Past observation of his play should give you the tools necessary to bluff him. Start by observing his betting patterns. Ask yourself how often your opponent folds in certain situations. If you notice that your opponent folds 90% of the time to a bet on the flop, bet with anything. The more observant you become, the more you will be able to successfully bluff. Sometimes you can notice physical tells that will indicate your opponents weakness.

A common tell occurs when an opponent spreads his hand wide open while throwing chips into the pot. In this situation, your opponent is generally weak and you can bluff him out of the pot. Learn to bluff by playing a limit lower so you dont care if you lose. Play at a limit where you are not scared to bluff your opponents out of pots. As you progress as a player, you will notice there are so many opportunities to bluff your opponent. The best players in the world are also the best bluffers. They know when their opponent is weak and can push their opponent off hands. You dont need a hand to bluff, just a good read on your opponent. Focus on your opponent and I believe you will find many opportunities to bluff him. Winning uncontested pots is much easier because you dont need a hand. Learn to bluff and you can bluff your way to victory.

Napoleon Will is a self-published author and semi-professional poker player. He updates the poker review and strategy site
http://www.mypokerstart.com