3 replies to this topic

[falsepretense]

I'm reading David Sklansy's book right now Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players, and my question is about the "strategic concepts" portion of the book. I think I have a good grasp on how to semibluff and how to try to buy the free card, but my question is this. Are these plays that should be used very often, or only occasionally. For instance, if it checks to me on the flop and I have four to a flush or and open ended straight draw, is it always appropriate to bet, assuming that there is a chance that all players will fold and that there is a chance I've just bought a free river card? Similarly, I hold A3suited and flop low pair, should I semibluff with this because of the chance people will fold and the chance I will buy a free card? Any help you guys could give me would be great. Thanks!

[whatgreatis]

I'm reading David Sklansy's book right now Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players, and my question is about the "strategic concepts" portion of the book. I think I have a good grasp on how to semibluff and how to try to buy the free card, but my question is this. Are these plays that should be used very often, or only occasionally. For instance, if it checks to me on the flop and I have four to a flush or and open ended straight draw, is it always appropriate to bet, assuming that there is a chance that all players will fold and that there is a chance I've just bought a free river card? Similarly, I hold A3suited and flop low pair, should I semibluff with this because of the chance people will fold and the chance I will buy a free card? Any help you guys could give me would be great. Thanks!

Is this a limit hold'em book? All this talk about buying free cards makes me think it is.

When you flop a flush draw and OESD it's almost always correct to bet. Your not betting for a free card but your betting for value because you have strong equity in the hand.

The A3 thing, like almost everything in poker, depends on the situtation.

My advice to you is to go to the LHE strat and post some hands when you go for the free card play and see if they think its a good spot.

[antistuff]

few things i've noticed about free cards -

people overestimate their fold equity on the turn and don't take enough free cards.

people try to take the free card too much. lets say there are two broadways on the flop and you have the flush draw. do not raise for a free card.

having a flush draw does not mean you should automatically raise the flop.

its not a semi-bluff if there isn't a chance the person will fold the best hand.

[TravisG]

semibluffs and the decision wether or not to take a free card after a unsuccessfull semibluff or to fire another time, as well as the amount of times you're going to use those moves depend heavily on board, opponent and your actual draw.

its not like that you semi bluff 30% of the time when you have an open ended straight draw. it depends on board texture and your read on your opponent.

2 examples, one for a good spot to semi-bluff and one for a bad spot. both will be exaggerated a little since those situations rarely come up exactly like that in tournaments. but you'll understand.

example 1:

you're 6 handed and both you and villain have 50 big blinds (lets say at the 500/1000 level but with no antes). villain trys to steal preflop a lot and is one of the robotic cbetters.

You're on the button and you look down at

9 T

Villain, yet another time opens for 2500 from the cutoff and you decide to play a pot against him in position. You call and both SB and BB fold.

the flop comes

8 J 2 .

Villan, as expected, fires a standard continuation bet of 4250.

You decide to semi-bluff with your open ended straight draw and make it 10250. Villain folds rather quickly.

----

That was a good spot. Why? you ask.

Villains opening range is very wide. Because he just always wants the blinds, he could be raising with any two cards there, probably because your table wasn't showing resistance at all. When you look at that flop, you see OK if he raised with JT / QJ / KJ /AJ or something like that, that flop could've hit him. but how many other hands does he raise that don't hit that flop? you got it, MANY (remember, you only flop a pair about 1/3 of the times). This means he's going to fold to your semi bluff aproxx. 2/3 of the time. and if he calls, you might stack him later if you hit your straight.

now a bad spot:

Same situation, but now villan is someone else. Villain is now known to be a tight, competetive player. Since you joined the table 1h ago, you didn't see him raise often, and he didn't play limped pots either. You also didn't see him bluffs. All the hands he played got to showdown and he always had the goods

You're on the button again and look down at the same hand again ( 9 T ). Villain opens for 2.5k and you decide to play a pot in position. SB and BB fold.

this time the flop comes:

A Q 4 :hearts:

Villain almost bets the pot, betting 5k into a 6.5k pot.

You decide to call this and see a turn card. You dont semi-bluff here. Why?

Well, villain is tight, and this board hits a lot of his usual opening range. Not only that, he expressed strength with his bet on the flop. You might even be able to fold this since hes competetive and your implied odds might diminish quickly, cause he might not pay you off if you hit your flush. In any case, 3 betting here will just get you in problems here almost every time. most of the times he has hands where he wants to get it in, not fold.

Thats it.

I think I laid that out alright. If you have any questions feel free to ask.