6.4 Semi-Bluffing

The decision to semi-bluff has the next highest priority (meaning if we do not bet or call based on EHS' we consider semi-bluffing). If we are faced with 0 bets and have a high enough potential to call both a bet and a raise, we will open the betting ourselves. If none of the other players bet or raise we will continue to bet in subsequent rounds even without sufficient potential (continuing to represent a strong hand while there is a reasonable chance of winning the pot immediately). Semi-bluffing is used when $PPOT >= Pot\_Odds2$, where

$$Pot\_Odds2 = \frac{2*bet\_size}{(pot\_size + 4*bet\_size)+2*bet\_size}.$$ (6.5)

The term `$2*bet\_size$' represents the bet and raise we are saying we can call. The term `$4*bet\_size$' represents the money the bettor and raiser will be putting in to the pot to match ours (2 bets each, including the assumption that the initial bettor would call the raise). Since it is not possible to know how much is going to go into the pot, we do this as an approximation of the pot odds we would be getting.

Bluffing in this manner has a positive side effect by contributing to deception. If Loki never bluffed the human opposition would recognize this after a few showdowns and would quickly adapt, folding when faced with a bet or raise (lowering winnings). In fact, since Loki bluffs infrequently, the more experienced players on IRC often detect and exploit this predictable pattern.