Poker Tips

Introduction

A semi-bluff in poker is simply a bet on a hand that might not prove to be the best hand, but that could reasonably outdraw any hands calling it. So, you need to play a semi-bluff when there are still more cards to come However, unless you are a highly experienced player you wouldn’t be advised to try and play a semi-bluff until after the flop with at least three community cards on the table.

What’s the difference between a bluff and a semi-bluff?

Good job she’s got the belt - remember not to show any tells on a semi-bluff!

Betting on any bluff you’re putting yourself out there to some extent with the expectation that the other poker players will get nervous at your play, suspect a trap and either fold or play on blindly if they think they’ve got your measure. The difference is though that with a semi-bluff, with cards still to come, you will retain the possibility of outdrawing an opponent – if they decide to call you. An experienced opponent will know this and, unless they’ve got the large stack, will not want to waste chips on you and will invariably fold. That is the really essence of the semi-bluff with the coup de grace being the possibility that a hand that folds may well actually have been the strongest/winning hand. You can use a semi-bluff on a bet, raise or check-raise according to have much you want to ‘big up’ the hand you’ve got – but remember, you really do need to be sure that your hand does have the potential to improve before playing a semi-bluff. As always, be careful not to give any tells away on a semi-bluff.

Why you should consider playing a semi-bluff

These have got to be worth at least a semi-bluff!

Quite simply playing a semi-bluff can make your opponents forget all of their own personal poker fundamentals, breaking what they know to be the correct way to play. As no one would play a semi-bluff with the best hand, what on earth would be the point of that, your opponents will not risk raising you and, as previously stated, are more likely to fold. This is where they are actually playing against their own better judgment, and knowledge of poker, as they could yet be folding the best hand on the table – a cardinal sin indeed. Of course by deciding to play a semi-bluff, at that instant you will probably have what you consider to be the best hand anyway. By betting on it you’re not simply letting the other players off with an easy ride by giving them free cards, if they want ‘em – they’ll have to pay for ‘em. This tactic is bound to get the worst hand folding, probably in quite a hurry too. If someone with what is actually a better hand should call you, with more cards to come you’ve still got a chance of improving your hand to the best one anyway. If you decide to check rather than bet, look for the player who does bet, as they’ve probably got a good, or even the best hand, but you then need to call them. That of course means there’s no free card for you, so if you want to be the one getting the free card – go for a semi-bluff when you’re sitting in position one.

Times to avoid semi-bluffing

Well I guess that’s one kind of sandbagger!

There are a couple of rules for when not to bluff. First of all if you’re going to be called - don’t attempt a semi-bluff. Quite simply if you’re being called the ‘bluff’ has simply already been taken out of the semi-bluff! You’ll be taking an enormous risk to then add chips to the pot on a hand that must surely not be the best one – otherwise why would someone call you, or are they trying to out-bluff you? As previously mentioned being in seat one is always best for playing a semi-bluff, you can play it when at other seat positions – but be very wary of playing it in the last position. If everyone before you simply checks, they may well just be waiting to see if you’ll bet, then following your betting will check-raise you trapping you into putting more chips on the table – beware the sandbaggers on this play! In short – only bet if the play is absolutely right for you.

Defending against a semi-bluff

No matter how cute your opponent is - they could be semi-bluffing.

Of course from time to time you have to expect to find yourself under attack from a semi-bluff, so how do you defend yourself against a semi-bluff? If you suspect someone of trying to semi-bluff you the best defense is probably to fold, unless you’re confident that your hole cards already stand a good chance with the community cards already on the table, in which case you should call them. Finally, if you’ve got a marginal hand you could risk raising, but then you’re entering into the territory of trying to semi-bluff the semi-bluff!