Of all the elements of the game of poker that a player is able to control, bluffing is by far and away the most effective. A player cannot control the cards that they receive from the dealer, or what comes out in the flop, turn and river, nor can they control the cards their opponents receive and how they'll elect to bet based on those cards, but they can control when and how they choose to bluff.

Given that deceiving your opponents is an art form in itself when it comes to poker, it is not difficult to understand why so many beginners feel that bluffing is the best way to success. They reason that other players may view them as a hard-headed professional, gnarled and worn by many years experience and that they'll all fold meekly once they've announced all in with a 2? 8? hand and nothing at all to help improve that hand in the resulting flop.

Of course, the reality is very different, many beginners may be stunned to find that their 'elaborate' bluff has been called by one, two or more players and instead of earning a nice tasty pot thanks to their clever deception, the beginner is now staring at their stack in the pot and any hopes of staying in the game quickly vanishing over the horizon.

So bluffing is certainly a poker players friend, but it is a tool which must be used judiciously and at the right time. The problem with writing an article about bluffing in this way is that every game of poker is different and every poker player is different, so providing a clear and easy to understand guide to bluffing that is applicable in every situation is almost impossible.

However, we can look at some scenarios when bluffing may pay off for the casino player. We must stress the may aspect as there is no guarantee of success, any bluff comes down to one important factor; how well a player is able to convince the other players that they have a hand, when in fact they don't.

As a general guide, bluffing can work best when...

... there are fewer players contesting the hand - Quite simply, it is easier to fool one or two players, rather than five or six. With fewer hands in play, it is less likely that any of the players in the hand will have something they may consider worth putting up against your bluff, especially if the betting in the earlier hands has been lukewarm. Be careful with your bluff though, you must bluff enough to make players think twice about calling you, but not too much to leave you in a dire position if your bluff is called, especially early in a game. Remember too, if you are called you may need to persist with the bluff to win the hand, or consider folding if you believe the player may have hit a stronger hand and is unlikely to fold regardless of what you bet. The art of texas holdem poker online concerns random cards, guesses about the specific cards that the other players are holding and control of the pot - the amount of money held by the dealer until the conclusion of the game.

... players fold easily - Players who fold easily and who wait for decent cards before committing to a hand are often said to be playing 'tight' and these players can be easy targets for bluffers. You can use bets here to gain information about a player who is playing tight. For example, if you bet early in a hand and they don't fold, then a bluff may not be wise as it is likely they'll be holding something in their hand. If you are up against players who play tight, check or fold a lot, then you can often pick up some easy cheap pots by making small to medium sized bluffs.

... on the river - Many players will keep in a hand if they are waiting for an out card, but when the river comes and it is unsuccessful, they'll know that their chances of winning the pot are limited. If however you have a hand such as an Ace High or a low pair, you could bluff in the hope that those who have missed their target out card will fold, leaving you to take the pot.

... in position from the deal and everyone else has checked or folded - betting last does have its advantages and doing so is called being in position. If the action reaches you and everyone has simply checked or called, you could try and bluff your way to the pot by making a decent bet. Watch out for experienced players here, they may try to slow play you into committing a lot to the pot before coming in late in the hand to make a big raise and leave you in trouble.

...when the flop is relatively poor - If the flop comes and it is a bunch of lower cards of mixed suits, then there is a good chance that these cards will have been folded by other players. A well timed bluff here can convince other players you have hit a lucky three of a kind or two pair, leaving them running scared and folding.

In addition to these different scenarios, there is something else that is important about bluffing and that is the crucial aspects of presenting the right image yourself and knowing your opponents. If you come to the table and act like a beginner, then not only will people be more likely to call your bluffs more of the time, but more players will be inclined to call your bluffs too. Act like a poker pro and they'll think twice about whether to call your bluff or not. Image is everything so make sure you present the right one.

Lastly, the most crucial aspect of bluffing is knowing your opponents. Get to know your players by watching them closely in the opening hands of a game. Are they playing loosely or tight? Do they have any tells apparent? Getting into the minds of your opponents is a great way to ensure your bluffs succeed and spread the idea that you have better hands than you really do. If you can understand how and why your opponents are playing like they do, then you have a much better chance of bluffing your way to success against them.