Mastering the Semi-BLUFF: When to Go ALL-IN vs. Play It Safe

In this video, we review a poker hand that includes an ambitious play and poker caoch Bart Hanson gives his take on if this was a strategy he approves of or not. This was a captivating moment from a live 2/5 no limit cash game. Our hero decides to push all in with a semi-bluff against two opponents. Was this move a genius strategic play or a costly misstep? Step-by-step we analyze the decision-making process and the potential outcomes. Whether you're a seasoned player or a beginner honing your skills, this review will provide valuable insights into advanced poker strategy.

This hand review is perfect for live cash game players looking for practical poker tips. Elevate your game with professional insights into complex poker strategies, and arm yourself with the knowledge needed to dominate the felt.

0:00 — Intro
0:43 — Preflop
1:58 — Flop
5:45 — Turn
9:19 — Hero Decision
11:36 — Reveal?

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[CrushlivePoker]

Do you see why this play isn't all that believable? People generally are not expecting you to check call a wet board with very strong hands so the value range you're represnting is pretty thin compared to the number of combo draws on a board like this.

[PSPCRemy]

Bart: live chat is saying rip it *😬* I wouldn’t do that, what are you getting to fold ?

…so whatd you do ?

Hero: …..SO i ripped it

😂

[frederickmccabe]

I thought caller played it great and Bart is giving the average 2/5 player way to much hand reading credit. I know I fold Aces or kings in UTG spot, then I'm left with LoJack who either has one pair, which he'll probably fold, or a big draw, which he could either fold or call with and I'm ahead of. Well played from caller IMHO

[gabrielrockman]

Should the hero be squeezing preflop with pocket 10s or pocket 8s preflop, or should he just complete? Should hands like J-9, Q-10, Q-8, 10-8, pocket 10s, or pocket 8s really be check-raising the flop 100% of the time?

[daithi]

I've ripped it on a hand like this on the turn, but in the cases I ripped it, I had bottom or middle set. I ripped it to put max pressure on the draws and because there are a lot of cards I'm not going to like on the river. However, I'm never bluffing when I rip it here.

[LinusK]

Hero can rep a flopped monster with a check-raise on the turn, even if he wouldn't actually play it that way.
As long as there are people who would play it like that, and the villains don't know whether you're one of them, you can get away with it.
They'll throw away a ton of beter hands against this play.
I think it's brilliant.

[losyart]

Im folding it pre . Cause its a troublesome hand unless it is like AsKs4s or idk 6x6xQx or i guess 2x6x6x. It is all but trouble postflop especially being OOP to everyone. Once we get on the flop we have snap fold on flop . We only hoping for running 6 and 6 and still might be dead or i guess spade spade which we still have potential reverse-implied odds. We asking for trouble at all streets but somehow it worked. By reraising turn we mostly representing J9d and Q3suited of some sort i guess

[davidculhane]

I think you want to go small on turn and if you don't get raised off, you basically know villain is capped and if we miss the river, jam and out qq, jj even kk that flatted pre, 77, 88 all in a tough spot. The most profitable bluffs are when villain calls flop and turn and folds river.

[Matzes]

I like it. Lj is capped, utg range more AA KK AK who will have hard time calling against us who can litteraly have all the 2 pairs, some sets, J9s

[seslocrit]

Fold pre. But I love hero's x/j on the turn (assuming you know he's capable of laying down over pairs). That's only play in this spot.

You would rather call QJ/sets/QT before KQ, AQ and the overpairs. Obviously, you have to call some Aces/Kings w/o a spade or Diamond but at a lesser frequency because of the multi-way nature of the pot.

[britishbulldogish]

I actually like this play.

We should be the only one with all combos of two pair and J9 and there are way more combos of AA and KK in UTG range. It looks super crazy strong into two players in a 4 way pre configuration and we have equity if called.

[burkee]

this can only be a profitable play at National Harbor

[adamcopley]

Too much showdown value and/or potential to jam this IMO. Would prefer the jamm if you didn't have a pair.

[gamblingguru]

Q6 suited is 100% more powerful a hand online idc what ppl say haha!? Anyone have another random online hand that works better online?

[stevenundisclosed]

This is pure punt from the hero. No better hand should be folding on the turn here.

[Williy_Nilly]

Terrible preflop call IMO. unless he's hoping to flop quads or better.

[theryan]

If you are “bluffing” with top pair and a flush draw, ya fucked up.

[manimezzi]

"Let's see how outta line you get " you know exactly how the hand goes 😂😂😂
Big fan of your hand breakdowns, Bart, but I'm absolutely not a fan of your nostradamus like predictions when you literally get emailed the hand and know exactly how it unfolds.
Enough with the hollywooding ffs😂

[pot_kivach]

how to put yourself in trouble?
1) do not resist when others put you there
2) if just no one tries to put you in troubles, then you MUST do it by yourself! enter flop at all cost...even if it takes a very speculative hand. Once on flop, what a relief! This, that's already access on the way to trouble. Of course call flop bet...even if it's crap kicker, no draw, just a top pair...and against multi opponents. The more opponents, the better! The Trouble is almost guaranteed this way. Then, on turn when you pick up mini equity...rip it off! Right into 2 opponents!! Cuz, if you just call turn bet, and made it on river somehow, then by then all your troubles might be slipping away! Damn!