The Semi Bluff

The semi bluff is a crucial play for the aggressive poker player. Since it is unlikely you're going to make an excellent hand on every flop, you are going to have to bluff at some pots if you want to be a consistent winner. Now, knowing when you should semi bluff, and when you shouldn't semi bluff will make the difference between a winning session and a losing session, so let's get right into it...

First, you need to know what a semi bluff is. A semi bluff is when a player makes a bet into the pot when they only hold a mediocre hand such as a draw or mid pair. The reason for this bet is because there is a good chance your opponent will fold, and you will win the pot right there. However, if your opponent does make the call, you still have plenty of outs to win the hand, and that is what makes the semi bluff profitable.

Now, what are some hands you might semi bluff with? Well, a good example is a flush draw, a straight draw, mid pair, bottom pair with a backdoor draw, or a gutshot straight draw with two over cards. None of these hands are worth much in their current state, but they are worth making a semi bluff because you have enough potential to win the hand.

So, how big should your semi bluff bet be? Well, it is a good idea to keep it between 1/2 the pot and the full size of the pot. Anything less gives your opponent too good of odds to fold, and anything more may look like an over bet.

Alright, now that you know how and when to semi bluff, let's discuss when you shouldn't semi bluff. The first situation where you should avoid semi bluffing is when your opponent is either extremely aggressive, calling stations, or just plain crazy. Players like this are very likely to call you down with nothing, so you lose the chance of them folding the pot to you.

Another time where you should avoid semi bluffing is when there are multiple players in the pot. The reason for this is it's unlikely that they're all going to fold, so your only chance of winning the pot is if you hit your draw. If there are 4 or more players in the pot, it is usually a good idea to avoid semi bluffing.

Now you know the basics of the semi bluff. Use this knowledge to increase your poker winnings.