Slow play is really a term used in poker – specially Texas Holdem – for trying to lure your competitors into creating a large bet so that you just can trap them and take down a big pot.
It really is usually used having a quite good pre-flop hand such as pocket Aces on Kings. As an alternative to betting large, the sluggish gambler will sit back and limp in (call or check) as if he doesn’t have a hands worth betting, hoping that an opponent will have caught a lower pair or a straight draw and will are available in with a big wager.
It is actually a classic poker manouever and one which has won a lot of money for poker players down by way of the ages, except it has lost it is effectiveness. The basic reason for this is that everybody is now sluggish playing their major hands so it really is virtually expected.
So how do you use this circumstance to your advantage?
In case you catch a big hands, you need to arrive out betting. Instead of attempting to tempt your competitors into creating a move so that you just can come in more than the top, make the wager yourself. Now most amateur players baulk in the thought of this in case the rest of the table folds and they "waste" their massive hands, except in reality you are going to typically constantly obtain a number of wagering action from somebody.
By wagering your major hand instead of sluggish wagering it, you might be performing a double bluff since most men and women would slow wager on it. Your opponents will often assume you are bluffing and you might have a number of betting action and ultimately win a lot more money.
The other reason you need to bet is that if you don’t bet, you are allowing your opponents a free of charge look in the cards and every time a card is turned more than they could possibly be converting a losing hand to a winning one.
There’s only one situation where it will generally pay to gradual bet on your hand – whenever you flop an absolute monster that nearly can not be beaten. For instance say you might be dealt Ace, 4 of clubs and the flop is Queen, 10, 9 of clubs. You’ve just flopped the nut flush and you are pretty a lot unbeatable. OK anyone could have a pair of Queens, 10s or 9s and catch a fourth on the turn or river, or they may very well be holding the King of clubs and catch the Jack for a straight flush, but the odds of you not winning are now remote.
This is the time to slow bet on your hand. You will find all sorts of hands that somebody else may be holding to make them think they are in a beneficial position here; two other clubs, a straight draw, triples and even just a Queen for the top pair, whatever they have got the chances are any individual will assume it’s worth betting. If the flop or river produces a King, Queen Jack, Ten or 9 you could possibly have a big raise or even an all-in from somebody.
Now you let them construct the pot up by just calling the wagers and take down the pot with your nut flush.