Slow Play – Do’s and Don’ts

The moment of slow playing a winning hand is what poker is all about. In some ways, it is almost the opposite of bluffing, since most players bluff strength but reveal weakness. The opposite is true in terms of slow playing. When a player is said to be “slow playing” the hand, it means that they are pretending to be weak, although in reality, they have the best hand on the table.

For example, if you entered the hand with A J suited hearts, and hit a flush on the flop, with three hearts, you could go all in and scare away the other players, but they would quickly exit the hand, leaving you with no new chips to claim.

Instead of trying to take down the pot, you may decide to slow play, in order to extract even more chips from unsuspecting opponents.

The Do’s of Slow Play

Be sure to keep an eye on any potential obstacles to your victory. For example, if you have decided to slow play pocket aces, and have hit an ace on the flop, giving you a comfortable set of Aces, take a moment to make sure that you can effectively continue to slow play the hand. Strange things happen on a slow moving river. Your opponent could be on his way to a flush or a straight.

Keep up the act. If you are hoping to look as though you are weak, be sure to act as though you are weak. When the action comes to you, don’t fire out a call. This will give away the illusion of weakness.

Let your opponents build your empire. If you know that some of your opponents like to play the role of bully, then silently encourage them to do so. Each bet that they make will contribute to your coffers. When the last stages of the hand play out, fire back and re-raise them as much as you think they will be willing to call.

Do everything that you plan to do the next time you want to bluff. Use this victory march as an opportunity to establish a “false tell” that you can employ at a later stage. When the cards are revealed at the showdown, players will look at you with awe and respect. Some players will have watched you throughout the hand and will make mental notes of the “false tells” or “false signs” that you planted as you played out that hand. You can manipulate these opponents later.

The Don’ts of Slow Play

Don’t overdo it. The worst thing you can do with a winning hand is to be so deliberate in your actions that you end up scaring other people from betting into your trap. Experienced players will be watching the board as well as the actions of the players involved in the hand. If they suspect that you are holding the nuts on an obvious flush, they will check or fold for the remainder of the hand.

Don’t lag in your decision timing. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the value of the hand that he holds, and excessive time wasting or exaggerated decision making will indicate that you are in bluff mode, of some sort.

Don’t let the hand slide away. One of the biggest mistakes that a player can make when slow playing a hand is in underestimating the potential outs of his opponents. Even if you hold the Ace high flush, it is still possible to lose the hand to a full house.

This can have disastrous results as you may have become so cocky that you can’ t force yourself to lay down even when your opponent’s bets indicate that he hit his full house.