You know by now that bluffing is a major part of the game of poker.If you want to make some serious money, bluffing is necessary. This is true in both the casino poker room and the online arena. You need to be able to get a good read on your opponents and then take advantage of the weaker players by making a run at the pot with a stone-cold bluff. This is a positional move that, when you're last to act, gives you a major advantage over your opponents.

Semi-bluffs are a safer bet, as they are a bit less risky since you should usually have a nut flush or straight draw potential in your hand. And with two cards yet to come, you're also building the pot in the hope that your hand will get there.

There are two reasons to bluff:

• To increase your profits when you win pots without having the best hand.

• To get your opponents to call in the future when you do have the best hand.

Bluffing online does not have the same perceived value as it does in offline poker games. This is because, unless the hand goes to the river, you're unable to show your opponent your cheese hand and because many online players pay little attention and won't even pick up on your bluffing tactics. However, just knowing this puts you in the driver's seat since you are very much aware of their bluffing tactics.

The virtual world makes it easier for your opponents to try to deceive you because they don't have to look you right in the eye while attempting a bluff. And calling their bluff is just a mouse click away, causing you to call more online bluffs than you would when playing in offline poker games. So be sure to pick your bluffing hands carefully.