Part: Part Eight - Making Moves

The check-raise semi-bluff

Flop
Heads-upPot 2,200 (5.5 BB)7♥6♣2♠BB9♥8♥● 16,000 (40 BB)YOUopen-ender + flush drawBTN● 16,000 (40 BB)Buttonbets 1,100 (2.8 BB)D

You defended with 9♥8♥. Flop 7♥ 6♣ 2♠ - an open-ended straight draw plus a flush draw. You check, the button c-bets.

You flop a monster draw out of position and he c-bets. Best?

WhyCheck-raise semi-bluff. With a straight-and-flush draw you have a huge number of outs plus fold equity - raising can win it now and sets up to stack him when you hit. The combination makes the move far stronger than a passive call.
What happensYou check-raise to 3,000; he folds.  You take it with the best draw.
A big draw turned a check-raise into a high-equity semi-bluff - fold equity now plus a pile of outs when called. Out of position, this is how you play your monster draws.

Check-raise your biggest draws as semi-bluffs - the fold equity plus the outs make it one of the strongest moves out of position.