As anyone who has ever played a game of poker will know, bluffing can be absolutely essential. If you play in a live tournament, or perhaps in a casino, bluffing can have a lot to do with the way you react (or don’t react) to the cards which you have been given, as well as your general demeanour at the table. In online poker, where you can’t see your opponents and they can’t see you, bluffing needs to be approached a little differently.

That’s not to say that it is not possible to bluff when playing online – in fact, it still remains an important part of the game. Often bluffing is most effective in longer games. Many sites offer ‘sit and go’ games, which tend to be much shorter. However, if you want to put your bluffing techniques to best possible use, then you are better off playing in a tournament, which are also offered at a number of online sites, such as Party poker. This way, you will have more time to get used to your opponents style of playing, and more time to convince them of yours. This way, when you appear to make a move which suggests you are likely to be holding strong cards, they will be less inclined to call.

Another good way to bluff online is by playing in games with higher stakes. Many online poker sites will offer low limit games, which can be a great way of practising your game, but when it costs next to nothing to call a player’s bluff, it is far more likely to happen. In high limit and no limit games, it is far more of a risk for another player to call your bet, and therefore your bluff has more chance of being successful.