Semi-bluffso on Two Pairs and Bets Made by Players

In drawing two cards to a pair, there is almost nothing to be said for this maneuver.

This, so far as the opener of a pot is concerned.

So many players attempt it so often that even a player who has only a pair of Aces, or a pair of Kings, is quite likely to call you; the pot will normally lay adequate odds.

You may, of course, have improved your hand after the draw, and so be able to bet with confidence after the buy; though against many players you would do better to check after the buy and see what happens.

You are (as has already been pointed out) worsening the odds against you; they become three to one against tour improving your hand, instead of only two and a half to one; they become 12 to one, instead of eight to one, against your making threes.

The only situation in which you should even consider staging this bluff is where a timid player--- whom you place with two pairs--- has raised you before the buy.

If you re-raise before drawing, draw two cards, and raise again after the buy, a poor player may throw in.

But these tactics are likely to fail against an intelligent player, because you are making a bet which is out of character, and should therefore suggest a bluff.

These remarks have reference to a situation where you can, if you like, check. If you have to 'chip', say, put up a minimum stake, you are of course in a better position; if the chip represents as little as a half dollar, it may be enough to prove a deterrent against a careful player.

In drawing one card to threes, this is a more intelligent type of semi-bluff.

There are three points in its favor: if you make this draw occasionally other players won't be able to tell whether you are drawing to threes or two pairs, and won't raise you unless they have at last threes which are likely to be better than yours.

Second, this play, effected occasionally, is a useful contribution towards one objective which you should always have in mind: keeping the other players guessing.

Finally, it does not greatly lengthen the odds against success, except the odds against your getting fours. They are in effect doubled; odds of 22 and a half to one against you become 46 to one against you: a consideration worth bearing in mind of penalties are available.

But your odds against making Full House are actually improved if you keep a kicker; they are shortened from 15 and a half to one against you to 14 and two-thirds to one against you.

However, the net effect of this play is to increase the odds against improvement from eight and two-thirds to 10 and three-fourths to one against you; so it should not be resorted to more often than seems desirable.

An important consideration, is how high your threes are. If you have opened a Jackpot which four other players have entered, all of them drawing three cards, the odds are only three to two against none of them making threes.

So if you have opened on, say, three three's, you should give yourself the maximum chance of improvement.

But if you have opened on three Aces, a one-card buy may result in a double from a player who has, say, three Queens.

Balancing all these considerations, it is recommended that you should buy one card to threes occasionally: say, on balance, about once or twice in a session.