Free Poker Games Guide To Semi Bluffing
In this free poker online article we're going to look at the art of semi-bluffing.
What's a semi bluff then? Well, if you're bluffing with nothing, that's what you call a pure bluff or a stone-cold bluff. But if you bluff where you have a bit of something and that's what we call the semi-bluff.
For example, when you have a hand like Ad-Kd at a board of 6h-7h-8s-10h and you bet large or raise your opponent's bet large, here you are executing a pure bluff.
This is because your hand did not improve in the Flop and weakened on the Turn. But if you put your opponent on a weaker hand like A-Q or even a draw like A-J, then you can push him out of the pot by betting substantially. That is the only way you can win. If he calls your bluff, then you're A-K can't stand much pressure.
But suppose you are holding 7-6 and the Flop comes 5-4-J. Your opponent checks. You figure out that your opponent may have a raggedy Jack in there, so you check. You check with the intention of folding if you don't improve your hand and if he plays aggressively; but the main reason of your checking is to catch a Three or an Eight and kill your opponent's A-J, K-J or maybe 9-9 later.
However, suppose your opponent checks and you bet? Betting in this situation serves two purposes. One is to increase the pot if you somehow improve to your Straight. Two is to kick your opponent out. If he has nothing well, naturally, he shall move out. (With 9-9 he may move out.)
But what if he has the Jack? If he had a weak Jack (say, J-8) he may put you on a bigger Jack, say, A-J, or K-J and he may move out. Because you bet (or raise) it indicates that your pocket cards somehow fit the community cards.
Now, he may call, and you proceed to the Turn and the River. You figure out now he may have A-J or K-J. Or he may continue with 9-9.
If your hand doesn't improve yet on the later rounds then you can pure-bluff your opponent all the way or stop.
But what if you hit your Straight? Then there is a possibility that he was putting you on a weaker Jack after the Flop (like J-8) and he may even raise with A-J or K-J. He has no idea that the Straight was completed!
He has no idea that the Three or the Eight helped you vastly. You can now crush your opponent. This was the semi part.
Here you can now win in two ways: Through the "bluff" part - Your opponent will fold. You still have the pot. Or through the "semi" - both of you will show down your hands, and you win a large pot.
Also, you can check and check until you complete the Straight, but you show your opponent your hand. The next time he will play with you, he might be scared if a similar situation arises.
If you semi-bluff, however, you still show your opponent if he decides to continue, but additionally, you can make your opponent fold so he cannot guess what you have.
Overall lesson? You can be more unpredictable with semi-bluffing so get practising on the free poker games sites first where you don't have the fear of losing money before you venture onto money making (and losing) cash sites.
In this free poker online article we're going to look at the art of semi-bluffing.
What's a semi bluff then? Well, if you're bluffing with nothing, that's what you call a pure bluff or a stone-cold bluff. But if you bluff where you have a bit of something and that's what we call the semi-bluff.
For example, when you have a hand like Ad-Kd at a board of 6h-7h-8s-10h and you bet large or raise your opponent's bet large, here you are executing a pure bluff.
This is because your hand did not improve in the Flop and weakened on the Turn. But if you put your opponent on a weaker hand like A-Q or even a draw like A-J, then you can push him out of the pot by betting substantially. That is the only way you can win. If he calls your bluff, then you're A-K can't stand much pressure.
But suppose you are holding 7-6 and the Flop comes 5-4-J. Your opponent checks. You figure out that your opponent may have a raggedy Jack in there, so you check. You check with the intention of folding if you don't improve your hand and if he plays aggressively; but the main reason of your checking is to catch a Three or an Eight and kill your opponent's A-J, K-J or maybe 9-9 later.
However, suppose your opponent checks and you bet? Betting in this situation serves two purposes. One is to increase the pot if you somehow improve to your Straight. Two is to kick your opponent out. If he has nothing well, naturally, he shall move out. (With 9-9 he may move out.)
But what if he has the Jack? If he had a weak Jack (say, J-8) he may put you on a bigger Jack, say, A-J, or K-J and he may move out. Because you bet (or raise) it indicates that your pocket cards somehow fit the community cards.
Now, he may call, and you proceed to the Turn and the River. You figure out now he may have A-J or K-J. Or he may continue with 9-9.
If your hand doesn't improve yet on the later rounds then you can pure-bluff your opponent all the way or stop.
But what if you hit your Straight? Then there is a possibility that he was putting you on a weaker Jack after the Flop (like J-8) and he may even raise with A-J or K-J. He has no idea that the Straight was completed!
He has no idea that the Three or the Eight helped you vastly. You can now crush your opponent. This was the semi part.
Here you can now win in two ways: Through the "bluff" part - Your opponent will fold. You still have the pot. Or through the "semi" - both of you will show down your hands, and you win a large pot.
Also, you can check and check until you complete the Straight, but you show your opponent your hand. The next time he will play with you, he might be scared if a similar situation arises.
If you semi-bluff, however, you still show your opponent if he decides to continue, but additionally, you can make your opponent fold so he cannot guess what you have.
Overall lesson? You can be more unpredictable with semi-bluffing so get practising on the free poker games sites first where you don't have the fear of losing money before you venture onto money making (and losing) cash sites.
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