userX
Visionary
Platinum Level
The fact that you are afraid to bluff is more of an advantage than a disadvantage. Players who are not afraid to bluff usually do not have very good results. bluffing is a good and effective game mechanism, but only for experienced players. If you don't have enough experience and skills, you should play with good, strong hands and bluff only in extreme cases.
dannystanks
Visionary
Silver Level
If you are playing live poker and you never bluff, you will be put under loads of pressure. Imagine knowing that your opponent’s know you don’t bluff. Anytime you do finally want to play for a big pot they will be aware that you have never shown down a bluff and you are not bluffing now. It’s hard to make money that way.
So study hard on how to bluff. It is essential and downright easier to play poker with bluffs. It’s part of the game so face the fear my friend and go for it!
Poker_Mike
Legend
Loyaler
I want to suggest blocking your view of your hole cards.
Use a post-it note or some tape on your screen (don't damage your display lol).
Then you will only have a feel for the game with your opponent(s) and most importantly - reading the board.
It is just training so it never matters what you have if you get to showdown - you are just trying to get your opponent to fold and you are "always bluffing" because you don't even know what you have.
Usually I assume that if my villain keeps calling then he has something - but not always.
I like this idea so much I am going to try it at micro levels.
I am going to try small bets and try pot sized bets to see which works best.
And - don't become overconfident. A lot of the time you are "bluffing" with the best hand anyways. Example: you shove on them and they fold and you think you made a great bluff - but really they would have folded to 1 bb anyways.
This will cost you some money because bluffing a lot is negative expected value. But you will gain some experience and insight into your bluffing game.
Once the table sees what you are doing (bluffing all the time) they will change their game to exploit your behavior - so be careful. Or change tables at that point to continue training.
Good luck to both of us!
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john_entony
feed the Fox
Loyaler
eetenor
Legend
Loyaler
#1 Medium value hands are river value bets or showdown hands not bluffs. When we bluff it is the medium value hands of our Villains that we are trying to get to fold therefore we bluff low value hands- low frequency to win at showdown or no value hands seldom win at showdown as bluffs. This is a very fundamental bluffing concept so if you do not have solid fundamentals, it explains your fear.
#2 You may have a range reading leak in your game. If you are not solid with range refining your V on all streets that would lead to fear of bluffing.
#3 We do not win every time we bluff this is a fact of solid poker strategy---if you are afraid to bluff it means you are afraid to lose when bluffing, yet we should be losing some of our bluffs- therefore you have not improved your skill set enough to be confident in your strategy choices.
Your study point is to work on #2 you need to get much stronger at range reading and understanding range advantage and nut advantage on all boards.
