Marcus Bateman / Marcus Bateman / 21 July 2008 / 1 Comments

Slowplaying is one of the most over used plays amongst low stakes no limit players

Time and time again you will see inexperienced players checking and calling with their monster hands in an attempt to disguise their strength. Although this play is essential to maintain a well-balanced game, it is a dangerous one that should not be over used. Allowing players to stay in the hand cheaply is often a recipe for disaster in no limit hold'em - especially with hands like sets that can easily be out drawn.

Ironically, often making 'tricky' plays, like check calling, or calling in position, actually reveal a great deal of information about your hand. Each poker hand is a story, and just like the overly elaborate stories told by bad liars, slow playing often reveals far more about the strength of your hand than just doing the straightforward action of betting or raising.

Imagine it is folded to you on the button and you raise with 9h9c. The big blind and the small blind defend and you see a flop of 9s10c2s and they both check. Many players would check behind here, hoping to disguise their hand and get some extra bets later from either of the players. Nearly all the time this is a mistake though. Not only does making a standard continuation bet actually disguise your hand quite well here (as it is only natural for you to continue taking the lead, as you did pre flop), but it also gives the wrong price to anyone with hands like jack ten, or a spade flush draw, on this very draw heavy board.

The other major problem with slow playing big hands is that they are very difficult to fold. These are the hands you are looking to put a lot of money in with, so why not just try and get the money in as soon as possible? Slow playing not only limits the size of the pot to what your opponent chooses to bet (if they bet at all), but also allows them to hit hands they probably would have folded had you bet (hands such as an inside, or 'gutshot' straight draw, or a back door flush). Both these types of hands are very well disguised if your opponent hits, and it is difficult to lay down hands like top set to large bets on the river in such situations.

Much is made of the deception of poker, but the reality of most successful players game is 90% of their play consists of playing good solid poker, betting their strong hands, folding their weak, and adjusting to the player types at the table. Although slow playing is an important element to anyone's game (especially against hyper loose aggressive players), it is important not to get carried away with it. Most of the time when you flop a big hand, you should be betting or raising it, trying to get as much money in the pot as quickly as possible and protecting your hand.

Setting the odd well-made trap is critical to poker success, but set too many and you might well trap yourself...

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