The strange thing about poker is if you always make smart decisions, you’ll become very predictable for your opponents. That’s why you should sometimes make a misleading play. You should bluff or check a big hand to your opponent. The goal is to make your opponent make a bad decision against your hand. If you do this randomly, you’ll become far less predictable, but the real art of misleading the other players is to always have a plan. You have to know why you’re making an unorthodox play.

For example: you’re holding AK suited and raised pre-flop, 1 player called out of position. The flop comes A47 rainbow, your opponent checks to you. Normally you would bet here, but this time you check behind. Why? You don’t want to give your hand away and plan to bet any turn. The turn is a J, your opponent checks to you, you bet 2/3 of pot. He calls. The river is a K, your opponent bets 2/3 of pot, you go all-in, he calls with AK. Your plan worked. No way he could have put you on AK or AJ after you checked the flop.

Don’t make plays just because you can, make them because you think it’s the best option at that time. Always have a plan when you’re mixing up your play, don’t do it just because you can.