Once a good player has your playing style figured out, you’re done for. You have to incorporate poker tactics into your game to keep your opponent guessing. Poker tactics usually involve making the statistically incorrect play in-order to trick your opponents into thinking you have a hand you don’t.
It’s very important not to go overboard with to many poker tactics to often, or else you may develop Fancy Play Syndrome. Tactics should be well thought out and only used in the most optimal situations.
Bluffing
Bluffing is the most basic and well known poker tactic, but it’s also the most important. The right bluff at the right time can be very rewarding to your chip stack, while the wrong bluff at the wrong time can spell disaster for your session.
Slow Playing
Slow playing is when you play your good hands slow, like you don’t have anything, while giving your opponents a chance to bluff or catch the second best hand. The slow play can be one of the most rewarding poker tactics, but it can also get you in a lot of trouble when overused.
Value Betting
The value bet is all about extracting as much chips as you can from your opponent. The goal is to bet such a small amount in relation to the pot that your opponent has to call due to the pot odds you’re giving him. If you’re opponent is on to you with all your value bets and begins to fold to them, then you can mix in a few complete bluffs as value bets as well.