To Bluff or Semi-Bluff

Bluffing is a very important weapon in ones poker arsenal. Knowing the exact moment when and how to bluff dramatically increases one winning percentage. Semi bluffing is another weapon that many people are not fully aware of but may have been using them without knowing it.

What is the main difference between bluffing and semi-bluffing?

Bluffing is classically defined as the act of deception by displaying a false front of confidence in the strength of one's cards. Simply put, it means that one is trying to convince others that their hand is weak and the players hand is unbeatable. When one chooses to bluff, one hopes that everyone else in the table would fold and not challenge anymore. If anyone does decide to call the bluff, the player loses big time.

The skill of Semi Bluffing would lie between an outright bluff or a half hearted one. This is the core essence of this bluff. A Semi buff is similar to a bluff, but the difference lies in the ability to still try to make a winning hand. If a player attempts to call one's semi bluff, the player can still find the last card to form a straight or a winning flush.

When to semi-bluff

The best time to semi-bluff is when one has a good hand that is only one card away from being an almost unbeatable hand. If one uses a semi-bluff before the right time, one leaves the open the possibility of picking an extra card that would make one win.

It is not advisable to intimidate with weak players since most of them would not play the game correctly and just do a call out every time. It is also unavoidable to bluff when one is playing in a low limit poker room. A large majority of hands would go through to a show down

Other bluffing tips

The best time to bluff would be the time when one is left with a few other players. Bluffing with a small group is much more effective this way because it is always easier to fool a small group than a large one.

Another fact is that if one notices other players that fold easily, they are easy targets for the bluff and one can quickly weed out the weak players of the group and those who are not steady contributors to the pot.

Bluffing sets up the minds of others into thinking one always has a great or good hand when actually did not would make them be wary and cautious about proceeding in the game.

Bluffing is an art that can only be developed by personally reading the other players. Bluffing is great way to add spice to a poker game.