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The Semi Bluff
Oct 29th, 2007
Jason | 
A semi-bluff is defined as a bet made with a hand that may not be best at the time, but has a chance of improving to the best hand if called. Good players are extremely versed in semi-bluffing. It is an important tool to have in one’s poker arsenal.
An example of a semi-bluff would be if a player held AsKs, and the flop came with two spades. In most situations the player with the flush draw should bet the flop. Even though he doesn’t have a made hand, or even a pair, his hand can improve to the best hand by hitting a spade on the turn or river. Also, and Ace or a King on the turn or river may give this player the best hand.
The reason the player in the example above should usually bet is because of something called fold equity. When you bet, your opponent will not know that you don’t have a real hand, so there is a chance he will fold and you will pick up the pot without even having to hit one of your cards. If you check and your opponent who has nothing checks, he may pair one of his cards on the turn or river, to beat your hand.
When you check you only have one way of winning the pot, which is to have the best hand at showdown. If you bet the flush draw and two overcards, you give yourself two ways of winning the pot:
1. Your opponent may fold to your initial bet, and you will have won the pot with nothing.
2. If you get called, you may improve to the best hand if you don’t have it already.
Another reason to use the semi-bluff is because it can disguise your hand from your opponents. If you hold and open-ended straight draw with a KQ on a JTx flop and bet, your opponent with AJ may not even see your straight coming if an Ace hits on the turn. It will be tough to lay down his two pair and he may pay you off nicely.
A popular semi-bluff variation is the “free card play” where you raise with a draw on the flop to induce your opponents to check to you on the next round of betting. The reason for this is because it gives you the option of taking a “free card” by checking the turn if you miss your draw. The idea is to raise when the bets are small, so you don’t have to face a larger turn bet.
Say you were playing $2/4 Limit, flop the nut flush draw and a player in front of you bets the flop. If you raise, you are putting in $4, and will probably get checked to on the turn. From there you can decide to either bet again to try and get your opponent to fold, or check and hope you hit your draw on the river.
In the same situation if you were to just call the $2 flop bet, and miss your draw on the turn, your opponent very well may bet again, and this time you will end up having to pay a total of $6 to see the river since the bets double on the turn and river.
Saving $2 may not seem like a lot, but most Limit players shoot for winning 1 big bet per hour, so that $2 could be the result of a ½ hour of play.
Obviously these are extreme examples and you will be faced with many different situations that will call for a semi-bluff. Notice them, and take advantage of them. Do not however, use this tactic against extremely aggressive players. If you raise one of these players on the flop when in position, and they think you are on a draw, there is a good chance they will 3-bet the flop and bet the turn. Semi-bluffs are best used against passive opponents, and opponents who fold too much.
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