Successful Free Poker Online Semi Bluffing Guide

This free poker games guide is all about how to use the semi bluff.

One question you may be asking at this point is what a semi bluff is. Well, if you have a hand with no power at all but you bluff then that is a full, or stone cold bluff. If you have a hand where there is some sort of potential..maybe later...and you play it then this is a semi-bluff.

For example, when you have a hand like Ad-Kd at a board of 6h-7h-8s-10h and you bet large or raise your opponent?s bet large, you are executing a pure bluff.

This is because your hand did not improve in the Flop and weakened on the Turn. But if you manage to get the other player on a weaker hand such as A-Q or even a draw like A-J then you might be able to take him out by placing a big bet. This big bluff is the only chance you have should you choose to go for it rather than fold. If your bluff is called then your going to go down.

Now lets say you have 7-6 and the Flop shows 5-4-J. The other player checks. You figure out that your opponent may have a raggedy Jack in there, so you check. Your intention is to fold if your hand does not improve and/or if he plays aggressive, but your primary reason for checking is to catch a 3 or 8 and nail the opposing A-J, K-J or 9-9 later on.

But what is he checks and you bet? Betting in this situation serves two purposes. Increasing the pot if you manage to improve to your Straight is one. Two is to kick your opponent out. If he has nothing well, naturally, he shall move out. (With 9-9 he may move out.)

But what if he has the Jack? If he had a weak Jack (say, J-8) he may put you on a bigger Jack, say, A-J, or K-J and he may move out. Because you bet (or raise) it indicates that your pocket cards somehow fit the community cards.

Now, he may call, and you proceed to the Turn and the River. You figure out now he may have A-J or K-J. Or he may continue with 9-9.

If your hand doesn't improve yet on the later rounds then you can pure-bluff your opponent all the way or stop.

If you hit your straight though, what then? Then there is a possibility that he was putting you on a weaker Jack after the Flop (like J-8) and he may even raise with A-J or K-J. He has no idea that the Straight was completed!

He does not realize at all that the 3 or 8 made it for you. You can now crush your opponent. This is the semi part.

Now there are two ways for you to win: Win by the bluff where he folds and you get the pot. Or by the semi bluff where you both go to showdown and you win a bigger pot.

Also, you can check and check until you complete the Straight, but you show your opponent your hand. The next time he will play with you, he might be scared if a similar situation arises.

If you semi-bluff, however, you still show your opponent if he decides to continue, but additionally, you can make your opponent fold so he cannot guess what you have.

Overall lesson? You can be more unpredictable with semi-bluffing so get practising! And what better place to play poker online free than http://www.NoPayPOKER.com where you don't have the fear of losing money like you do at on money sites or live tables yet you can still win real cash on risk free free poker games.