Re: \"Value Bet\"?
When you're betting "for value", you're betting because you think you have the best hand, therefore you want your opponent(s) to call. (You can also bet draws "for value", but that gets a little more complicated to explain. Hopefully someone smarter than me will step up and talk about that.)
If you bet as a semi-bluff, you usually know that chances are you don't have the best hand at the time you make the bet, but you've still got a "reasonable" chance of making the winning hand. Also, there is the chance your opponent(s) will fold, giving you the pot.
As opposed to a value-bet, when you semi-bluff, in most instances, you're hoping everyone will fold and you can take the pot right now.
Value bet = "I sure hope everyone calls."
Semi-bluff = "I hope they fold but if they call it's not the worst thing in the world. I've still got a fighting chance."
Pure-bluff = "I have zero chance of winning this pot if anyone calls. I hope they all fold."
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