Successful Free Poker Games Semi Bluffing Guide

In this free poker games article we're going to look at the art of semi-bluffing.

A good place to start is to define what a semi bluff actually is. Well, if you're bluffing with nothing, that's what you call a pure bluff or a 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 due to the fact that the hand didn't get better with the Flop and got even worse at 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. That is the only way you can win. If he calls your bluff, then your A-K can't stand much pressure.

Now lets say you have 7-6 and the Flop shows 5-4-J. Your opponent checks. You reckon he might just have a raggy Jack so you check. You check with the intention of folding if you don't improve your hand and if he plays aggressively; but the main reason of your checking is to catch a Three or an Eight and kill your opponents A-J, K-J or maybe 9-9 later.

However, suppose your opponent checks and you bet? Betting in this situation serves two purposes. One is to increase the pot if you somehow improve to your Straight. Two, of course, is to nail your opponent. 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.

But what if you hit your Straight? It could be that he was putting you on a weaker Jack post the Flop (such as J-8) or he might raise with A-J or K-J. He has no idea that the Straight was completed!

He has no idea that the Three or the Eight helped you vastly. 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 for 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.