• Check-raise
A check-raise is checking a hand with the intention of raising when someone else bets. For a check-raise to work you have to have a bet from another player.
So if you aren’t fairly sure that another player will bet, it’s not usually a good idea to attempt a check-raise.
Even when you’re sure that another player will bet, you’ll often do better by just betting yourself because they might then raise, giving you a chance to reraise.
• Semi-bluff
A semi-bluff is a bet or raise where you probably don’t have the best hand but do have some chance to make the best hand.
It’s bet that has two ways to win. It can win as a bluff if the opponent folds, or, if the opponent calls, you can still win by improving on the next card.
Raising with a flush draw when you think your opponent may be weak and might fold is an example of a semi-bluff.
• Free-card play
A free-card play is similar to a semi-bluff. Like a semi-bluff, it’s a bet or raise with a hand that is probably not the best hand but has some chance to make the best hand.
The difference is that a semi-bluff depends on some chance that the other players will fold to your bet-raise. A free-card play depends on the others checking to you on the next betting round.
A free-card play only makes sense if you are in late position, last to act.
The idea is that the bet size on the flop is one half the bet size on the turne, so by making an extra bet on the flop, you save having to call a bet on the turn when the bet size is larger.
Excessive attempts at deceptive play actually make your hand easier for good players to read, and the bad players aren’t paying any attention anyway. Play straightforwardly-they don’t expect it.
It’s also easy for a beginner who tries to play tight to become tight-weak.
A tight-weak player is one who plays very tight, but when he does play a hand, he easily becomes convinced by aggressive opponents that he doesn’t have the best hand.
As I point out later in the book, there are many reasons other players may be betting or raising other than having the best hand.
You should play tight in your pre-flop hand selection. On the flop you should guard against two things: developing FPS and being pushed off a hand by a player with FPS.
A major element of FPS is aggression when aggression isn’t called for.
Aggression just for the sake of aggression usually just isn’t good idea.
Being deceptive just so that you can impress your friends or show the other players how tricky you are usually just isn’t a good idea.
Play aggressively, but don’t develop FPS habits.
At the same time, be aware that many players are infected with FPS, and there are some players who don’t necessarily have much of a hand when they are betting or raising.
In most game conditions, your play on the flop is more of an important factor toward becoming a winning player than any other point in the game.
It’s the most important round to master.
Entering a Public Cardroom / The Play of the Game / The First Betting Round
