Balance
Having a mix of strong hands and bluffs in the same line so that an opponent cannot tell which one you hold and cannot profitably always call or always fold.
Frequently asked questions
What is balance in poker?
Taking the same action with both strong hands and bluffs often enough that the opponent cannot profitably adjust. A balanced river bet contains enough value to punish calls and enough bluffs to punish folds.
How much bluffing makes a range balanced?
It follows from the bet size. A pot-sized bet is balanced at roughly one bluff for every two value hands, a half-pot bet at about one in four. The bigger the bet, the more bluffs it can support.
Is balance always worth pursuing?
No, and this is where theory and practice part company. Balance protects you against opponents who are paying attention; against players with a clear, exploitable flaw, deliberately unbalanced play wins more. Balance is the default, not the goal.