Bluffing is one of the most fundamental, and intriguing parts of poker. No limit games increase the power of a well-timed bluff. Nothing is more fun to do than to win a nice pot with no cards.
There are a lot of different types bluffs that can be made. They fit specific situations that arise. In this article we will look how the semi-bluff works.
When you run a semi-bluff you have a hand that might become very good. You bet before this happens, disguising what you have. When you use this bluff you want to have a lot of chips, so that when it hits, you will get paid well.
A classic semi bluff situation is this: you have Kh-4h in the big blind, and have called a raise from early position. The flop comes Ad-Qh-2h. You are most likely behind in the hand, but this is a perfect time to run a semi-bluff.
If you come out with a decent sized bet, this is a semi-bluff. It will hopefully affect your opponent in one of the following ways. He will fold if he thinks he's beat. He will only call if he has a hand but now isn't sure if he is best. He will not think you have a flush draw. He might slow play his hand if it's very strong.
Playing the hand this way puts you in control. If the flush hits, hopefully your opponent has a big hand. If he does, you are in for a huge payoff.
If the turn card doesn't hit the flush, you have two options. You can continue to represent a made hand, and bet again. Or, you can check, and hope to see the river for free.
When you bet the turn and get a fold, your semi-bluff has landed you a nice pot. If you are called, or he bets back at you, you can be confident that he has a hand.
If you bet small, and he calls, he could have a flush draw also. You will have a good chance to stack him if the flush hits the river. If you get re-raised, you will have to fold if he bets big.
When you decide to check on the turn, and he bets, you need to consider the odds, both pot odds and implied odds. You know you are behind but you might have the right situation to call, and hope to hit the flush.
Let's go back to the beginning. If you just check the flop, the hand will play very differently. If he makes a small bet and you call, he will suspect that you are on a flush draw. If you hit the turn he might not pay you off.
Some flops are very dangerous for the semi-bluff strategy. If you have the flush draw, but not the nut flush draw, be more careful. Also, if the flop has a pair in it, making your flush can be a big loser. The pair on the board makes a full house possible.
When you use the semi-bluff, it costs money. Many times you won't hit your flush, and lose more money than when you just check. But the rewards when they hit are well worth the increase in the losses when you don't hit. Overall, done well, this should be a profitable play.
There are a lot of different types bluffs that can be made. They fit specific situations that arise. In this article we will look how the semi-bluff works.
When you run a semi-bluff you have a hand that might become very good. You bet before this happens, disguising what you have. When you use this bluff you want to have a lot of chips, so that when it hits, you will get paid well.
A classic semi bluff situation is this: you have Kh-4h in the big blind, and have called a raise from early position. The flop comes Ad-Qh-2h. You are most likely behind in the hand, but this is a perfect time to run a semi-bluff.
If you come out with a decent sized bet, this is a semi-bluff. It will hopefully affect your opponent in one of the following ways. He will fold if he thinks he's beat. He will only call if he has a hand but now isn't sure if he is best. He will not think you have a flush draw. He might slow play his hand if it's very strong.
Playing the hand this way puts you in control. If the flush hits, hopefully your opponent has a big hand. If he does, you are in for a huge payoff.
If the turn card doesn't hit the flush, you have two options. You can continue to represent a made hand, and bet again. Or, you can check, and hope to see the river for free.
When you bet the turn and get a fold, your semi-bluff has landed you a nice pot. If you are called, or he bets back at you, you can be confident that he has a hand.
If you bet small, and he calls, he could have a flush draw also. You will have a good chance to stack him if the flush hits the river. If you get re-raised, you will have to fold if he bets big.
When you decide to check on the turn, and he bets, you need to consider the odds, both pot odds and implied odds. You know you are behind but you might have the right situation to call, and hope to hit the flush.
Let's go back to the beginning. If you just check the flop, the hand will play very differently. If he makes a small bet and you call, he will suspect that you are on a flush draw. If you hit the turn he might not pay you off.
Some flops are very dangerous for the semi-bluff strategy. If you have the flush draw, but not the nut flush draw, be more careful. Also, if the flop has a pair in it, making your flush can be a big loser. The pair on the board makes a full house possible.
When you use the semi-bluff, it costs money. Many times you won't hit your flush, and lose more money than when you just check. But the rewards when they hit are well worth the increase in the losses when you don't hit. Overall, done well, this should be a profitable play.
About the Author:
Poker strategy advice is all over the internet these days. The real challenge is to find the best information. Read as much as you can to try and sort things out. Then you must apply the techniques to actual play and see if they work. Poker Strategy
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