We Handle Debts

A slow play is when you under bet the value of your hand. This is done to deceive your opponents. Often this play can go horribly wrong. Many times players lose their whole stack trying to be sneaky.

I’m not saying that you should never slow play. I do think that you need the right situation to do it. Most players slow play at the wrong times. Let’s look at why you should be careful.

You’re at the beginning of a big tournament. So, the blinds are small and everyone has plenty of chips. You are dealt AA in early position. You decide to minimum raise, to hide the strength of your hand. Two players make the call. The flop comes A 10 6.

Then you decide to make a small bet to hope for some action. You get one call. The turn card is an innocent looking 9. Again, you bet small, trying to milk this hand.

Now, you get what you think you’re looking for. He throws in a big fat raise. You call, and the river brings an innocent 2. Now, your thinking, how much can I bet and get a call. You bet that amount and hope he calls. To your surprise he goes all in.

You’re a little stunned, but obviously make the call. When he shows his 7 8, making the nut straight, you can’t believe your eyes. You flopped a set of aces and wound up losing to 7 8.

The small bets, with your big hand, seemed to have backfired on you. You got someone to stay in the hand long enough to get yourself beat. When you get to the end you can’t fold, you’ve really out smarted yourself.

Were you a victim of bad luck? Or was it bad play? I think you already know the answer.

All the bets you made were designed to keep players in the hand. By doing so you helped someone hit a long shot. When you call at the end you plan on seeing two pair, or a smaller set. But, when you think about it, these hands would be calling big bets too. You didn’t need to slow play against these hand that you’d beat.

When you get beat by his straight you should see the folly of the slow play. If he had a made hand, as you hoped he had, he would have called a big bet after the flop. A player with a gut shot straight draw should fold. This is even more pronounced if you raise more pre flop. Then when you make a strong bet after the flop it is a lot more chips to risk on a gut shot.

Slow playing has its place. But, as you can see, it has its dangers. Usually by betting your good hands you will make more chips, and get busted less often.