The many-opponent bluff is not advisable but it can sometimes work if you catch the players who are last to act shaking their heads and muttering.

Here’s why: The first players to act don’t think you would bluff into this many players [sometimes known as a "protected pot"]. Since they also have to worry about the players still to act behind them, they may fold stronger hands. The next players may be only moderately strong, and they may also fold [fearing the final two]. And the final two may be weak and drop.

This doesn’t have to work every time – just often enough to show a profit.

Get in the Game at Scarlet Poker

When playing in a game against average opponents, and bluffing, keep all your bets within the same timing range, like a rhythm. This will show that your betting isn’t just an idea that suddenly came to you but is in response to a good hand you have held all along.

When you use the same timing of bets on each card [and the same betting motion], it ties the rhythm together for an opponent. It gives him the reason he is looking for to believe that there is a pattern here – and he should fold.

Play Well and Win Money at Scarlet Poker

There’s one other benefit of making your betting appear as a rhythm. If you have a good hand and win, the next time you start this same betting rhythm, opponents may feel a little foolish calling bets, remembering how it came out last time, and will fold. Its a little memory trick – for them.

Throw your opponents – keep the same betting rhythm.

In general, it’s not a good idea to show your cards when you’ve bluffed somebody. Doing this not only gives free information about your play and the kinds of cards you are playing, but it can also produce emotions that muddy the waters on future hands.

An example of the latter is this: You bluff Joe Player out of a pot by making a bet on the end, and then you turn over your cards to show him that you had absolutely nothing. Now, how are you going to read this player on upcoming hands?

Suppose that a few hands later you have a slightly better-than-average hand, and you bet into him, and he raises you? Now: Why is he raising you? Because he’s mad about the earlier hand? Because this time he’s going to give you a dose of your own medicine and try to bluff you? Or because this time he’s got a really good hand and he’s got you trapped with it?

Scarlet Poker – Are You In?

Showing him your bluff earlier makes it harder to read him on subsequent hands and identify his motivation.

Keep it simple. Don’t show your bluffs.