When it comes to any form of Poker there are some simple common sense rules you must remember. Most of these rules of thumb are applied to any type of card game when you really think about it.

For Poker however, changing up your game personality and mastering the art of bluffing is a necessity.

Master Multiple Personalities

We are not talking about letting your inner child literally get involved in some Poker; we are talking about how to play your hands properly. In order to keep opponents guessing, the way you play each round must be different. Playing the exact same way all of the time can give you a bad Poker reputation. You become predictable and therefore easy prey.

Swim in Every Direction

If your going to play with the sharks, it is vital you constantly change your method of play in order to keep them guessing. Only raising on the pre-flop because you have two Kings or two Aces, will eventually result in the rest of the players folding come your turn. Change gears by raising with a pair of suited connectors. It will confuse your opponents and make them more likely to call a raise when you are holding a killer hand.

Don’t overkill the Bluff

Bluffing all of the time is a bad idea. Eventually this to becomes predictable and eventually you will get called. This can result in you losing a ton of cash mid way through a tournament. Instead, restrict your bluffing to only occasional bluffing. If you get called, but are actually holding a flush, then the other players at the table are going to be more wary of calling your bets.

No Brainers

Rubbing it in can sometimes feel pretty good – but over doing it may piss a lot of people off. In Poker some players will show their cards at the end of a hand because they made the best bluff ever in the history of bluffing. Or, they may show that they did in fact have a killer of a hand and meant business when they pushed all of their chips to the middle.

Like stated before, Poker is a game of information and the more info you got on your opponents the better. This is where categorizing and predicting come into play. Learning immediately how to do this will build your own Poker reputation to be feared. Imagine becoming that Orca amongst the sharks – they won’t want to mess with you.

So, if you just pulled off the ultimate bluff, resist the temptation and DON’T show your cards – just muck them. The point is to leave everyone guessing – this in itself is strategy. In fact, in televised tournaments poker players refuse to show their hands, by replying “Watch it on TV if you want to know what I had”. They know that they would only jeopardise future hands if they gave away that information.

One Exception to the Rule

You play against a player who you long ago categorized as an aggressive player. The one thing about this player that stands out is his inability to be a good loser. In fact he gets right down pissed off if he loses – so angry in fact it actually might be a benefit to you. In this particular scenario you might want to show your cards. But please keep in mind it has to be a rare occasion.

So why show him?

Because it will drive him absolutely bat sh** - that’s why. This in turn results in him going on the “tilt” and making major mistakes. He will become desperate to win back his chips and will make some pretty stupid moves to do so.