Poker Strategy - When To Bluff In Fixed Limit Holdem

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When to Semi-Bluff in Fixed Limit Texas Hold'em

Every poker player is familiar with the concept of bluffing. You don’t think you have the best poker hand, but you believe if you bet enough, you can convince your opponent that you do, and induce him to fold, winning the pot. Bluffing has limited effectiveness in a Fixed Limit Hold em poker game. You are restricted as to the amount you can bet, and it is therefore hard to put enough pressure on your opponents to fold marginal hands.

Bluffing without really bluffing
There is another tactic in poker called a semi-bluff, however, which can be used to great effectiveness in any Texas Hold’em game. The semi-bluff is a bet with a hand that is likely not the best hand at the time you bet but if you are called, can become the best hand. For example, you have Qc, 8c and the board is Ac, Kc, 6h. In most cases you will be behind someone holding an Ace or a King. However even if you bet and are called, any club will give you a winning flush. Similarly, if you have 7s, 8h and bet into a board of Ac, 9s, 6h, you may be behind but have many cards which will give you a straight.

The advantage of a semi-bluff is that it gives you two ways to win the hand: One, when your opponents fold, and two, when they call but you make the hand you are drawing to. When should you semi-bluff? One time in Texas Holdem or any poker game when you should semi-bluff is if

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you plan to call anyway. If you are in a multi way pot with a big flush draw, you are likely to call a single bet even if you think your opponent has a big pair. Why not take the initiative? You were going to put in that bet anyway, so put it in first and be the aggressor. Now if your opponents don’t have a big pair, they may fold, giving you the pot. Even if they call, your hand is now well disguised. You can bet again on the turn and river and put more pressure on them, or you can slow down when the flush or straight comes and represent that you had a big pair and are now afraid of the flush or straight, and possibly trap them into betting into you. Note that if you bet on the river without having made your hand, this is no longer a semi-bluff but a pure bluff, as if you get called you will lose.

Early position semi-bluffing
It is better to semi-bluff from an earlier position, that is, when you are acting before most of your opponents at the poker table. This is because for one, if you bet in later position when others have checked, they will be more likely to put you on a bluff, and two, if everyone checks to you, it is often more profitable to check along and try to see if you can catch your flush or straight for free. If you do, you can now bet when it gets to you and you may get action from people putting you on a steal, and if you don’t, you can calculate whether it is worth it to continue with the hand based on everyone’s actions before you.

Semi-bluffs in poker are most effective if your opponents have some chance to fold to your bet. If you are in an extremely loose poker game, it may be worth it just to call along and plan to drag a big pot when you hit your hand, as many very loose players will call you when you make it just to “keep you honest.” If used properly, the semi-bluff can be a powerful weapon in your poker arsenal.

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