Just because you will not be doing much bluffing does not mean there won't be any going on in the game. Some players in low-limit games think that bluffing is an important part of the game and they will try it whenever possible. If there is a maniac in the game, this player may try to run over other players by raising and bluffing. If it succeeds, he will keep doing it. You can't call these players with anything just to try and catch them bluffing. Wait until you have a legitimate hand and then nail them with a raise of your own.

Be aware that many players will try to bluff on the river. If they have a busted draw, they may try betting or raising to win the pot. If you have a legitimate hand, and there is substantial money in the pot, you should call. If the pot contains $90 and it will cost you $6 to call a raise, you are getting 15:1 odds. It is better to lose $6 if you call and lose, than to forfeit $90 if you toss away the winning hand.

• Bluffing And Semi-bluffing In Poker (0)
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In low-limit games, bluffing will usually be an exercise in futility. The reason for this is that there are usually many players calling to the end. It is easier to bluff one or maybe two players, but it will be almost impossible to bluff everyone in a multiway pot. If there are any calling stations in your game, you should not even attempt a single bluff. If you find yourself heads up with a tight player, you may succeed but should refrain from all out bluffs in most situations. There will usually be someone wanting to "keep you honest" by calling your bet. That said, there is a type of bluffing that you can incorporate into your game; it is called semi-bluffing.

Poker expert/author David Sklansky coined the phrase semi-bluffing. It is a profitable technique that is used by advanced players. Unlike a bluff, when you have nothing, semi-bluffing is done when your hand is not strong enough to win the pot at the time, but does have the potential of improving to the best hand. If you bet, you are hoping that the other players will fold and you will win the pot without going any further. If you are called, then you still have a chance that your hand will improve to be the best hand.
Many semi-bluffing situations will come when you have a flush or straight draw. Raising on the flop could win you the pot or get you a free card.

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