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More on the Semi-Bluff

If you semi-bluff on the flop and are called, should you continue betting on fourth street ? This depends on the situation.

If you bet on the flop, a lot of players will call ( perhaps with as little as one overcard ) and then routinely throw their hands away for the next bet.

This fact argues for betting again.

However, if you always bet again, many of your opponents will pick up this pattern and will call or even raise you on fourth street.

Consequently, you should give up on many of your semi-bluffs once the turn comes.

Another thing to keep in mind about semi-bluffing is that you should play in such a manner that anyone who tries to keep you honest will make only a small profit.

Being conscious of this will keep you from betting too often in situations where you will merely be giving your money away.

Changing the subject slightly, suppose you flop an open-end straight draw and two flush cards are also on board.

Is it correct to bet? Some “authorities” claim that this hand should be thrown away.

They argue that you can make your hand and still lose the pot. However, they fail to understand that you can bet as a semi-bluff.

You often would bet a small pair with an overcard kicker (especially if your kicker is an ace) that has only five outs if you are called.

But when you bet an open-end straight draw in this spot and are called, you have either six or eight outs, depending on whether one of your opponents has a flush draw.

Clearly, if it is correct to bet the small pair with the big kicker, it is also correct to bet the straight draw when two suited cards are present.

This means that if you are against a small number of opponents, a bet is usually the correct strategic poker .

If both you and a lone opponent check on the turn when a blank hits, indicating that you could be against a flush draw, you may b able to steal the pot if another blank falls on the river.

This is especially true if you are known to occasionally check-raise on fourth street.

Here’s an example. Suppose you start with and the flop comes you usually should bet if no one else has yet bet and you do not have many opponents.A hand that gives you an inside straight draw with two overcards on the flop can be strong hand.

Notice that if you don’t win the pot on the flop with a bet, you still may have as many as ten outs.

In addition, if your overcards are high, they alone may be enough to win the pot once all the cards are out. (This can easily happen, as your opponent may be going for the button end of the straight.)

Thus, play poker this hand strongly especially against a small number of opponents and be inclined to bet it a second time regardless of the fourth street card.