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Poker Glossary

Semi-Bluff

A semi-bluff is a bet or raise made with a drawing hand — one that can win now by making the opponent fold, and can also improve to the best hand if called. It combines fold equity with real equity.

The semi-bluff is one of the most profitable plays in poker because it wins two ways. Even when called, your draw still has equity to make the nuts, so you’re never drawing dead the way a pure bluff often is.

Raise your strongest draws — big combo draws and open-enders with overcards — for maximum fold equity and to build the pot for when you hit. Just call with weaker draws that prefer to see a cheap card and realize their equity passively rather than get blown off the hand by a re-raise.

Worked example

You hold the nut flush draw with two overcards on the flop — about 15 outs and often a coin flip even when called. Raising is a textbook semi-bluff: worse hands fold now, and when you’re called you still hit your flush or a top pair roughly half the time.

FAQ

Why is a semi-bluff better than a pure bluff?

It wins two ways: the opponent may fold now, and if called your draw can still improve to the best hand. A pure bluff only wins when the opponent folds.

Which draws should you semi-bluff raise?

Your strongest draws with the most outs and fold equity — big combo draws and open-enders with overcards. Weaker draws usually prefer to call and see a cheap card.

Full lesson: Draws & Semi-bluff Raises →

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