Semi‑Bluff
A semi-bluff is a bet or raise made with a hand that is not the best now but has a good chance to improve, such as a flush draw. It can win in two ways: the opponent folds, or the draw comes in.
The simple explanation
If you have four cards to a flush and bet, your opponent may fold, and you win the pot at once. If he calls, you may still complete the flush on the turn or river. A semi-bluff is therefore less risky than a pure bluff, because your hand has real chances.
A closer look
Good semi-bluffing hands have many outs, such as flush draws, open-ended straight draws and combinations of both. The more outs, the more equity you have when called, and the less fold equity you need. Bad semi-bluffs are draws with few outs, such as gutshots with no other outs. Semi-bluffing is also a way to balance your strong hands. A semi-bluff raise can be even more profitable than a bet, because it puts more pressure on the opponent and may win the pot immediately.
A practical example
You hold A♥ 5♥ and the flop is 9♥ 7♥ 2♣. You bet 6 into a pot of 12. This is a semi-bluff with the nut flush draw.
Full explanation
A semi-bluff is a bet or raise made with a hand that is not the best now but has a good chance to improve, such as a flush draw. It can win in two ways: the opponent folds, or the draw comes in.
A semi-bluff is a bet with a drawing hand.
You can win if the opponent folds or if you complete the draw.
The best semi-bluffs have many outs.
It is less risky than a pure bluff.
Alternative spelling: semi bluff, semibluff
A semi-bluff
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)55 of hearts (5h) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)55 of hearts (5h) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)55 of hearts (5h) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A has a flush draw.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)55 of hearts (5h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)55 of hearts (5h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 18 chips
Player A bets 6 with a draw. If Player B folds, A wins now. If he calls, A can still hit his flush. This is a semi-bluff.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)55 of hearts (5h) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.