Poker pros do not bluff just because they feel brave. A good bluff usually has a reason: the board favors their range, the bet can make better hands fold, or a key card in their hand blocks the opponent from having the strongest hands.
The beginner version is simpler. Before you bluff, ask what better hand you expect to fold. If you cannot name one, the bluff is probably just a donation.
Beginner takeaway
- Bluff less often than the highlights make it seem.
- Pick boards where your story makes sense.
- Use pot odds to understand how often the bluff must work.