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No time for slow playing

our users say that this strategy is worth: a royal flush
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A ROYAL FLUSH
Friday December, 4th 2009 by fullhouse

One of the most overused plays in all of poker is slow playing. Players will try to slow play in spots where slow playing is so clearly not going to be optimal. The general rule of thumb for slow playing is that it should only be done when you have the nuts or some type of hand that is very near the nuts. It is very commonplace for players to slow play when they are unlikely to be ahead at all, let alone far ahead. There are two different reasons to slow play, to knock the other player out of the pot with your perceived strength or in an attempt to gain max value from your hand. You should definitely be very strong when trying to extract max value and your hand might become irrelevant when you are bluffing. It might not even be fair to call a slow play as a bluff a slow play at all, it is more of a pretend slow play. Value betting a flop, turn, and river is often times much more effective than slow playing any one street will be.

Think about what a successful slow play will generally require. If you want to slow play the flop you will need to check (or bet) small, this will not earn you a penny unless the other player bets. In order for you to make any money beyond the other player’s bet you will need to either raise them and hope they come along or flat call and worry about the next street. The problem with check raising is that it gives away the fact that you are strong, though this is the reason why a check raise bluff is so effective. The problem with flat calling is that you run the risk of losing action from your opponent on a future street. These are the reasons why leading out on the flop will end up being much more profitable. Take a look at the hand below for an example of a situation where some players will slow play, but really should be leading out.

Texas Hold'em, $220 Tournament, $100.00 BB (9 handed)

Button ($3890)
SB ($4395)
BB ($2332)
UTG ($1690)
UTG+1 ($1843)
MP1 ($3305)
MP2 ($1080)
Hero (MP3) ($3170)
CO ($5295)

Preflop

Hero is MP3 with Js, Jh

4 folds, Hero bets $300, CO calls $300, 1 fold, SB calls $250, 1 fold

Pre flop we are dealt a strong hand in pocket jacks. We need to force the action with a pre flop raise, this much is certain. We end up getting called by two players which is not the ideal scenario. We will be in position on the small blind after the flop but out of position on the cut off player. The flop really needs to contain all under cards for us to be safe. There is an incredibly good chance that one of our opponent’s has a queen, king, or ace so we will be in a tough spot if one of them flops.

Flop

($1000) 9h, 6h, 9s (3 players)

SB checks, Hero bets $900, 2 folds

The flop is pretty good for our hand. There is a flush draw on the board now so we will need to protect our hand. It would be difficult to slow play this flop because most AQ type hands will check back and they will get the opportunity to see a free turn card. We must bet this flop, if we get raised we will have to call. If they call or fold we will be happy because it either means we are building up the pot or will be taking it down. We end up leading out for 9/10 pot and force two folds. This hand played out perfectly.

Total pot: $1000