As old as game of poker itself, is the strategy of bluffing in the game. To "Bluff" in the game of poker (or in life in general) would be defined as an action where an individual purposefully misrepresents their situation or intention. In the game of poker, when a player is using the bluffing technique, they are doing so in an attempt to manipulate another player or other players into either calling their bet or folding their hand(s). When a player is bluffing in order to persuade others at the table to call their bet, they are trying to represent that their hand may not be very strong, and in doing so their ultimate goal is to communicate (unconsciously or consciously) that the other players can win if they call the bet, when in truth, they may not be able to. When a player is a holding a weak hand, but would like for the table to believe that they are strong, they may also choose to bluff. It is very basic poker strategy to using bluffing as a way to win at the game. Bluffing helps a player to progress in poker, allowing them to perhaps, pick up a pot that they wouldn’t be able to, without the performance of their bluff.

If an individual elects to study online at one of the many poker schools, bluffing will be taught to them, as there are different methods in doing so. Poker school will instruct a player on how to put their bluffing skills to work at the table, and in doing so, strengthen their game. Not only is bluffing useful when a player has a weak or a strong hand, it can also be used when a player is trying to push another player out of a hand. A player would want to push another player out when they have not yet made their hand, and do not want to invest any more chips to attempt to "make" their hand. A play may also want to push another player or players out of a hand if they have a strong hand, but do not want to run the risk of being "sucked out" on. This happens when someone makes their hand on the turn or river after they have called a bet that they shouldn’t have called, seeing as they had the weaker of the hands from the start.