Bluff
A bet or raise with a weak hand to make the opponent fold
Definition
A bluff is an action (bet or raise) made with a weak hand or no showdown value, aiming to make an opponent fold a better hand. In GTO, bluffs aren't impulsive actions but calculated components of ranges to maintain balance and make your strategy unexploitable. An optimal GTO bluff targets the hands the opponent can legitimately fold — those with little equity against your value range. The best bluffs have several traits: blocker effects (reducing the opponent's value combos), improvement potential (draws), and a narrative consistent with the board. Bluff frequency is dictated by the bet size: for a 50%-pot bet, you bluff about 1 time in 4 (25%). For a pot-sized bet, about 1 time in 3 (33%). These frequencies make the opponent mathematically indifferent between calling and folding — they can't counter-exploit you.
On K72 rainbow on the river, you represent a strong range (sets, two pairs). You bluff with A5 offsuit (no value, but the A blocks opponent AA). You target the opponent's medium pairs, which can't call profitably if you calibrate your bluff frequency correctly.