Slow play is really a term used in poker – especially Texas Holdem – for trying to lure your opponents into making a large wager so which you can trap them and take down a big pot.
It’s usually used having a really good pre-flop hand such as pocket Aces on Kings. In place of wagering big, the slow player will sit back and limp in (call or check) as if he does not have a hand worth wagering, hoping that an opponent will have caught a lower pair or a straight draw and will come in with an enormous wager.
It is a classic poker manouever and one which has won a lot of money for poker players down by means of the ages, except it has lost it is effectiveness. The straightforward reason for this is that everybody is now sluggish wagering their major hands so it’s practically expected.
So how do you use this predicament to your advantage?
If you catch an enormous palm, you need to arrive out wagering. Rather than attempting to tempt your opponents into creating a move so which you can are available in more than the top, generate the wager yourself. Now most amateur players baulk at the thought of this in case the rest of the table folds and they "waste" their massive hands, but in reality you will usually generally have several betting action from somebody.
By betting your large hands rather than sluggish betting it, you might be performing a double bluff since most men and women would slow bet on it. Your competitors will often assume that you are bluffing and you’ll get a number of betting action and ultimately win more money.
The other reason you really should wager is that in the event you do not bet, you are allowing your opponents a absolutely free look in the cards and each time a card is turned over they could possibly be converting a losing hands to a succeeding one.
There is only one situation where it will constantly pay to sluggish bet on your hand – when you flop an absolute monster that practically cannot be beaten. For example say you might be dealt Ace, Four of clubs and the flop is Queen, Ten, 9 of clubs. You’ve just flopped the nut flush and you are pretty much unbeatable. OK any individual could have a pair of Queens, Tens or 9s and catch a 4th on the turn or river, or they might be holding the King of clubs and catch the Jack for a straight flush, except the odds of you not winning are now remote.
This is the time to slow play your hand. You can find all sorts of hands that any person else could possibly be holding to produce them assume they’re in a beneficial position here; two other clubs, a straight draw, triples and even just a Queen for the top pair, whatever they’ve got the chances are anyone will think it’s worth wagering. If the flop or river produces a King, Queen Jack, 10 or Nine you may possibly acquire an enormous raise and even an all-in from somebody.
Now you let them develop the pot up by just calling the bets and take down the pot with your nut flush.