No Limit Texas Holdem Poker Semi Bluff

A much more effective weapon to have in your poker arsenal than just the 'stone cold hope your opponent folds' bluff, is the semi bluff. Everybody sees the bluffs created by pro players on ESPN where they had 2-5 off suit and took down a pot that had an Ace on the board, domino 99 by bluffing and getting the other player to fold. Nevertheless , the semi-bluff is more of a bluff that you make when you hit 'part' of your hand and you are confident your opponent hit nothing. Let me explain to you what I mean.

You have A-7 suited in the Big Blind and are able to check to see a flop. The flop then comes K-7-6 rainbow. You acquired middle pair with top kicker. That is a hand that you can make a stab at in what I call a semi-bluff. If your opponent(s) will not hold a King, your bet helps it be seem like you do have one, ergo completing the mentality of the bluff. However , the semi-bluff can perhaps work to your advantage because you still have 'live' cards or the possibility of hitting your hand if you do get a call. A� You get the best of both worlds. If another 7 hits on the turn or river you have made your hand. If an Ace hits, you have probably made your hand as well, to help you confidently bet this hand and not be terribly worried if you obtain a call.

By comparison, on what I call a 'naked' bluff, in the event that you get a call or a raise from your own opponent, you are probably going to have to shut it down unless you think you can bluff him on another street. If you have nothing and he calls your bluff, you are in trouble. If you are making a semi-bluff, then you do have some options and may want to continue in the hand.

The same goes for hands where you have a big draw. Let's say you are holding 6s-7s (suited) and the flop comes Ks-8s-9h. In the event that you bet listed here is it a bluff? Sure, you have nothing but a 7-high in your hand. However , it really is a semi-bluff because you have an up and down straight draw plus the flush draw giving you 17 cards that may hit your hand. This is a great time to throw a bet as of this pot because your probability of hitting a card that may make your hand are so high.

Especially in online poker where many times you are never sure what selection of cards your opponents will be playing, I like to use the semi-bluff greater than a naked bluff. Obviously, this can depend on the game you are playing, or the idea you have reached in a tournament, but overall, the naked bluff looks great on TV, but carries a lot of risk when it is found in online poker play.