Semibluff

Semibluff is a poker tactic in which a player bets or raises with a hand that is not currently the best but has a substantial chance to improve to the best hand on future streets, and also has fold equity that can win the pot immediately. The defining feature is both potential improvement and the ability to pressure opponents into folds.

A semibluff contrasts with a pure bluff, which has little or no current value, and with a value bet, which is made when the bettor already believes they have the best hand. Semibluffs are most common with drawing hands (such as flush draws or straight draws) or with possession of several outs that could turn the hand into a winner regardless of opponents’ holdings.

Strategically, semibluffs rely on two components: immediate fold equity and future equity through improvement. They are typically used in favorable pot odds, on boards that may have numerous outs if called, and when the player has a reasonable chance to improve on later streets. Good semibluff play also considers opponent tendencies, position, stack sizes, and the likelihood of being called.

Common examples include betting on a flop with a clean draw, or continuing aggression on later streets with backdoor possibilities. The risks include facing a call from a made hand that improves and leaving yourself with little fold equity if the draw misses. Effective semibluffing requires balance and awareness of the table dynamics to avoid predictability. See also bluff and value betting.