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AFTER THE FLOP- SEMI BLUFFING
Now we have the bluff in our repertoire of strategies, we are going to add one more to the arsenal, the cousin of the bluff, the semi-bluff. You see it all the time on television and now it is time to recognize and put it into play.
SEMI BLUFF- This strategy is a lot like the bluff, in that you are trying to win the hand right then and there. The difference is that you actually have some kind of hand or a drawing hand . Usually your hand will be a second best hand that will not win unless you throw a raise into the pot.
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Semi-bluffing a second highest pair will either win the pot right there or will give you some information as to what your opponents are holding. If you have the second best hand and are going to semi-bluff, you must treat it like the bluff. You will want to put in enough chips that will win the pot right there or will give you clues to what your opponent has. If your opponent calls your semi-bluff then you know that he probably has a higher pair than you and you should be checking your hand to him on the next card.
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Semi-bluffing a drawing hand will be much like using the strategy with a second best hand. You are trying to win the pot right there or are trying to get some information as to what your opponent has. If you only need one more card to a straight or one more card to a flush, then the semi-bluff should be enough to get rid of your opponents if they don't have anything. If they do call, then you know that you are beat at the moment, with a chance to improve your hand and take down the pot on the next card.
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The semi-bluff adds value to drawing hands. When you hold a drawing hand, you are holding just that… a drawing hand, nothing else. At the moment your hand will not win a pot on its own. Your hand still needs to improve in order to win. By adding money to the pot, you are adding value to your hand. The bigger the pot, the more value there is in drawing hands. The reason for this is simple, if you hit your flush or straight and it wins the pot, the pot will be that much sweeter because of the extra money put into it. If you don't hit your straight or flush, then you can rest knowing that you played for good value and just did not get the cards that you needed.
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WARNING: Do not become predictable with the drawing hand semi-bluff. I see many players raise the pot on a semi-bluff every time and it is very obvious what they are holding for cards. Don't fall into the habit of semi-bluffing every time you hold a drawing hand. Good players will recognize this and when they see the next card couldn't have given you a flush or straight, they will take advantage of that and take your money. Become unpredictable with your cards and only semi bluff the drawing hands about 75% of the time. That way, you will keep your opponents off guard.
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