Double Barreling the Semi-Bluff Draw
There will inevitably be online poker situations where you have a huge draw such as a straight draw that could possibly turn into a straight flush or a straight or flush. Of course, it’s more than possible that it won’t hit, but if you get this on the flop, then you have a couple of options. You can of course check call if the odds are right, which is the standard ABC play, or you can pull a move or two. You can semi-bluff for not just one but two streets.
What this means is that if you’re in this online poker situation, you bet regardless of your status. You hit a huge draw. So you bet thinking you’re going to hit, somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4 the pot. Now you have a excuse to call a reraise. And, you get to double barrel on the turn card, again regardless of if you hit.
The reason this is so effective is that you’ll be putting your opponent in a spot where he has no initiative to bet into the pot. You’ve taken what we call pot control. You may take down the pot on the second barrel, especially if the card is close to your straight. So if you take into consideration board texture, you’ll be able to successfully pull off a double barrel semi-bluff with great expected value. And if you get called on the turn, you can simply check the river if you’re in position. Look out for this when you play poker online.
