When To Slow Play A Poker Hand ?

[Kramer]

When you get a MONSTER hand, you should NOT slow play it.

Here's why: "Slow playing" means that you don't bet very much, or bet nothing at all, in hopes that your opponent makes a big bet or tries to bluff.
For instance, if you got two Aces before the flop and only called the big blind, you would be "slow playing" your Aces.
Or if you flopped a straightwith the highest kicker
and just "checked", you would be slow playing your straight. Make sense?

The problem is, most amateurs will slow play their big hands... trying to perform the famous check-raise maneuver... or trying to "trap" their opponents...
But generally speaking, this is NOT a smart strategy... for two reasons:
1. Because many poker players will see right through you... and fold the hand as soon as you make your move.
2. Because you won't win as much money when you slow play big hands versus betting them. Let's talk about the first reason...

The fact is, slow playing big hands will NOT confuse your opponents. On the contrary, it will actually give them a SOLID READ on you. Why? BECAUSE MOST PLAYERS SLOW PLAY MONSTER HANDS. That's just the way it is.
You may think you're being SLY, but you're really just being SILLY
I think it's actually human INSTINCTS to slow play big hands... Think about it. When someone gets a big hand, what are they thinking in their heads? They SHOULD be thinking... "How can I get the most money possible out of this pot?" But what they are REALLY thinking is... "How can I make sure everyone doesn't fold and this great hand doesn't go to waste?" It's the truth.

Especially since it will often take HUNDREDS of hands before you catch a monster. And that's the REAL reason why people slow play big hands... Because they're SCARED TO DEATH that if they make a bet, everyone will fold. So the point is, it is NOT unique to slow play a monster...

In fact, it's what MOST card players do. Especially amateurs. Now let's look at the second reason why slow playing a big hand is a bad idea... and that is: YOU WON'T MAKE AS MUCH MONEY.

The fact is, when you hit a monster, you should bet it. It's that simple.

Even if you REALLY ARE thinking to yourself, "How can I get the most money out of this pot?", the answer is to bet it. Not slow play it. You'll win more chips and make more money by betting your big hands..

Especially when you look at it over a long term perspective.

Let me show you three reasons why:
1. Usually, one of your opponents will have SOMETHING... whether it's a bottom pair, wired pair, straight draw... whatever. This means that you'll usually get one or more callers for your monster hand... which is "sure money" going into the pot that you're about to win...
2. When you slow play big hands, you're opening yourself up for BAD BEATS. You shouldn't give your opponents the opportunity to see free cards. When you let them see free cards, you're just increasing the odds that someone catches a lucky draw... or the one "miracle" card that can bust your hand. Betting your big hand, instead of letting your opponent get free cards, will narrow down your chances of a bad beat.
3. Your opponents won't see it coming. Since most players slow play monsters, your opponents will often put you on a BLUFF when you bet your big hand. And if they think you're bluffing, they'll try to come back over the top of you with a raise. This, of course, gives you yet ANOTHER way to make more money from your hand...

Now... let me talk about the EXCEPTION to this rule.
And that is when you get a monster that is SO UNBELIEVABLE... AND you sense complete weakness at the table. The most common example of this is 4-of-a-kind. For instance... Let's say the flop came out 8,8,2 and you've got pocket 8's. The other two players check to you. In this case, it will be smart to just check your big hand, rather than betting. BUT, you're not really "slow playing" it. What you're ACTUALLY doing is just letting your opponents "catch up" to you.

Since you know the 8's couldn't have helped either of your opponents, you want to make sure a turn card comes out... and maybe even a river card... in hopes that someone catches SOMETHING. If the turn card is a face card, that's good news for you. Because it means that someone might have made top pair and will be willing to give you some action in the hand. But besides that, you should NOT slow play your big hands.

Another example would be when you’ve flopped a flush with an Ace high.
You can’t be beaten by 1 or 2 pair , or a straight ,
Only a full house or 4 of a kind ...
You can trap someone with the King or Queen ...

[BigdaddyQH]

It all depends on your position. The more rules you play by, the easier you are to beat. The player who plays by no rules is the one who is very difficult to beat. I mix up my play so that by the time a couple of hours have passed, no one has any idea of what I am doing. That is the secret to controling a game, and control=success.

[L'il G]

The biggest factor is your opponent. There are some players that try to steamroll tables by consistently betting big. If they raise pre-flop in late position, you call and then hit a monster flop, you check and let them just keep betting into you because this type of player refuses to back down. Sometimes they'll push all-in on the turn, very often they'll put it all in on the river, because they're just stubborn and stupid.

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by L'il G

The biggest factor is your opponent.

very good point indeed