What is Semi Bluffing In Poker?

In poker, a “semi-bluff” is to bet with a hand that one expects is not currently the best hand, but has “outs” and good potential for improving to the best hand at showdown. It can be an opportunistic time to try a “bluff” since even when you get called from an opponent, there are still ways you can win the hand. That said, because you expect not to have the best hand, the goal of semi-bluffing is to get your opponents to fold.

Here’s an example of Lex Veldhuis making a timely semi-bluff after sensing weakness from Phil Ivey.