The Semi-Bluff
In this article:
- What is a semi-bluff?
- What kind of hands are suitable for semi-bluffing?
- Why should you use a semi-bluff?
- What kind of hands are suitable for semi-bluffing?
- Why should you use a semi-bluff?
What is a semi-bluff?
A semi-bluff is a bet you can make when you have a strong draw, but would rather have the other players fold. You make a large enough bet to scare away all the other players. You want them to fold, but if anyone calls, you still have a strong draw to fall back on.
What kind of hands are suitable for semi-bluffing?
Any draw that is used for a semi-bluff should be drawing to the winning hand. You don't want to be semi-bluffing with one pair because the odds of you improving to two pair or trips are not very high and even if you do improve, it may not be the winning hand. Usually you want to semi-bluff with straight draws and flush draws. If you have an open-ended straight draw or a flush draw on the flop, your chances of connecting with the right card are about 1 in 3. You want to have a draw to the nuts with a decent chance of hitting it to be considering a semi-bluff.
Why should you use a semi-bluff?
You should semi-bluff when you have a good draw, but don't want to take your chances on hitting it. You know that you only connect on straight or flush draws about 1 time out of 3, so most of the time, those draws are not going to hit. If you think you can get your opponents to fold with a big bet, then you can make the bet and if they don't fold, you'll still have your draw to fall back on. Basically, you make a semi-bluff to buy the pot if you can and avoid having to draw to make your hand. It's just like a bluff with a bit of an insurance policy. If someone calls you, you're not completely dead in the water. You still have a chance to connect and take down the whole pot.
