Semi-Bluffing in Texas Holdem

The semi-bluff move means that you have a marginal hand with ‘outs’  that can improve your hand. For example: if you hold As, 5s and the flop is Ks, 5h and 2s,

Your current pair of fives will most likely not be the best hand on the table, but any spade, 5, or an Ace that comes along will probably turn your hand into the best one. 

Semi-bluffing is a very effective technique used by professionals. It provides two ways of winning:

• The first is if everyone folds and you take the pot immediately
• The second is if you hit your card and make a great hand

The semi-bluff move provides additional advantages:

• If the last card is a ‘scary card’, lets say that the biggest card on the board is paired, if no one raised your semi-bluff on the previous round of betting, it is less likely that anyone holds that card, and now you have a good opportunity to bluff.
• Another advantage is that when you do hit your card, it will be very hard for your opponents to know what you have. for example: lets say you hold Ah, 4h and the board is  Kh, 5c, 2h if any heart, a 3 or an A will come you have a good chance to have the best hand
• The semi bluff will sometimes give you a free card if you don’t hit your card immediately.

Another example of a classic semi bluffing is when you have a gut shot straight, if you hold 87, and the board is K, 6, 4 any 5 will make you the best hand, 7 or 8 will give you the second high pair with possibilities to draw trips, or a straight and 9 will give you an open ended straight.