is it better to semi bluff or check call?

[froggie53088]

ive been in alot of situations which end up being shituations where i will flop a nut straight or nut flush draw with several limpers in the hand myself included. My question is, is it better for me to semi bluff or to just check call?
i ask this because i have been semi bluffing in an attempt to really splash up the pot because i hate winning 10cents with the nuts, and its been getting me into trouble with players raising me. also i feel as though when i win with my made nut draw, im not winning enough to compensate for all the money im losing in my busted draws. i know this kind of thing is pretty situational im just hoping someone has some basic tips so i can stop donking chips away

[DaD01ng]

well, if you think the other player will raise you then semi-bluffing may not be the best option. I also like semi-bluffing a lot int hese situations though. With pretty much any draw, i'll cbet, but not too much, just enough to build a pot. Then depending on the turn and villain sometimes I continue or stop.

As long as you don't donk your chips, you should be making money, semi-bluffing is prolly higher variance than c/c though.

[dtamburin]

It is very situational to make this call, that said one of the things you should be taking into consideration is...
Looking at how much money the villains have behind, and if you make your draw, do you think you can get them to put it in?

[tanglelegs]

I had rather check and hope someone has a second best hand and will raise and get the pot bigger.

[shyguy03533]

Semibluffing is such a situational play that it is very hard to just give tips. I tend to semi bluff with 1, or at most 2 villians in the pot with me.
There is an EXCELLENT chapter on semi bluffs in Skalnksys : The Theory of Poker.
You should grab that book and check it out.
One tip though is I look at my villians effective odds. If they are short stacked, I don't even bother with a semi bluff, but if my villian has a huge stack and it can get me doubled up if I do hit my straight of flush, I more than often semi bluff.

[Robb]

Raising with an 8 or 9 out draw on the flop isn't bluffing, it's betting for value. You WANT action, especially calls. You have 32% - 36% equity (on the flop), so you'd like to play it out with multiple opponents.

Betting often (1) eliminates a couple of opponents, (2) earns you a free card on the turn, or both. Check/raising almost certainly accomplishes both.

The worst lines commit chips on the flop but don't see the river.

[999999999]

It depends on the players. If I think that they will pay me off by check calling until I hit then I'm going to check call the whole way. I think that I can get the person to fold after the turn after betting the flop then I going to over bet the pot and see what happens. Also depends on position

[T-Rex]

betting is better than calling...most the time

[froggie53088]

alright thanks for the tips guys

[Stacks]

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...rs-t56814.html

End thread?

I would like to add one thought. Rarely are you 100% to win a hand. However, when you bet, not only do you have the chance of winning the hand given your equity in the pot, but you also give villain a chance to either make an incorrect call or incorrect fold. And by villain folding on streets prior to the river, he does not get to realize his entire equity, and therefore "relinquishes" that equity.