When to Slow Play in Poker

[xRanieri]

Slow playing in poker is another one of the many tools you will want to have in your arsenal to be a successful poker player. A good player knows when to slow play, and when not to. As with most things in poker, there is never a cut and dry scenario for any given situation. That is why it is important to recognize some different factors that will help you to decide on the best move, and whether or not you should slow play.

Many new players make the mistake of slow playing too often, or not enough, or in the wrong spots or positions. So we developed this article to help you recognize when you should and should not slow play based on:

• position
• board texture
• reads on opponents

Read through our article here: Slow Playing vs. Fast Playing

Then come back and let us know:

• What did you learn that stuck out to you the most?
• Do you have any other tips to share on slow-playing?

Okay, lemme break something down real clear: The majority of REGs do NOT know how to slowplay, especially postflop. Slowplaying to induce bluffs against a clearly tilted person is the only time people slowplay well, and that's ez. But there's so many situations that bet/bet/bet would make you more money on average than doing something like a check/call, check/raise the turn, donk the river. It's too obvious.

Preflop, the limp with AA UTG for example is usually worst off than 3x, especially when you do this with only monsters, it's quite obvious. I'll read the article though, hopefully you'll teach me something about the mystical art of the slow play.

 

[Bee]

I think everyone here knows me like a slow-player

Well, this article is very good and I can recognize some of my ways to play. Slow play strong hand on dry flop or on position is something what I use.

 

[izpanol]

Nice information, I've always been to always be slow and almost never bluff, but now I think it could accelerate the game more as long as it meets the necessary conditions. Even so I am skeptical in the tournaments, since those who play fast, end up losing even faster

 

[dazeboy79]

Anytime I flop a boat or better...

 

[pepsilv]

learning new trick here, Thanks CC.!

 

[JBGoode]

Very nice article. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I have been noticing Ive been bombing rivers when Im way ahead after playing a made hand on 2 streets often.

 

[weezy1312]

Good article as usual , good informations to put in use , i think the main key to know if you should slow play or play fast is to know how would your opponent react to it, as at the end of the day you would use the one that would get you more chips.

 

[Cherepashkakry]

Slowplay with nuts only.

 

[chronical]

I have mixeed feelings about this. when I slow play I run into stone-cold nuts and when I doте ... well where is the value? LUL
I do get that this is a perspective thing but still.
I don agree that slow playing only makes sence against certain ops and on certain boards youy are loosing value ro giving avway to much value so, thats that...
That being said I think there is a merit to playing slower as most of the players are told to over play and valuye the hell out of your strong hands.

 

[Syltan]

First of all, after reading the title of the article, I was sure that the article will focus on delaying the time in tournaments, especially on the loot of the tournament, with what stack you need to play faster with what slower. For example, in the tournaments that take place on Unibet from CC slow game just kills me, everyone pulls time from the first minutes of the game. In this article it was interesting to get acquainted with interesting conclusions in conjunction with the boards on which it is necessary to play slowly and quickly. If we consider the situation in a vacuum that is an unknown opponent, we can try to extract the equity with the help of the conclusions in this article.

 

[vovqa93]

Slowplay

I only observe some "slowplay" plays at higher stakes and highstakes poker cash games, where it makes player's range capped. Players there are fighting range vs range, and very often they balance their betting vs making their range capped or even the opposite, just to balance their ranges to make the opponents decision tuff.
If we talk about playing against aggresive/recreational players, or some "regulars" that are just barrel too often, sometime slowplay is a case.

 

[Bee]

Once, I had AA and tried to slow play and involve someone in hand. My small raise brought 2 players more in hand. I made small bet again and one of them bought 2 pairs for small money ... on some 68s or something like that , he hit one card on flop and one on turn..... never again made that....

 

[deyvsonflp]

I usually play slow on the flop when I have a top pair, two pairs and a chip but a quick game when the turn shows a flush or sequence where the villain can have the flush or sequence.

 

[Bee]

slow play

https://www.boomplayer.com/29898300_98532C306C

 

[BentleyBoy]

Nice article and some interesting responses in the forum.

There is something about succeeding with slow play that makes a really nice feeling inside. I am sure you know what I mean. To slow play and watch other opponent(s) play into the pot thinking they have the better hand is something magical....when you actually have the best hand and were winning all the way!

Its interesting to read the views of others who either do not like to slow play, do not know what it is, or who slow ply in the wrong places.

The thing to remember is that the decision to slow play or not is just ONE of the skills and tactics that you can use playing poker and it fits in with all of the other things such as situation, position knowledge opponents play etc.

Keep thinking and keep working on your game.

BB

 

[Rijckenborg]

Betting too much with a strong hand on a dry flop cause more other player to fold.
I wasted many monster hands like that.
In the other hand, often when I slow play, my opponent kills me on the river.
I will adjust my slow playing skill with my position.

 

[korneel]

I use slowplay often when I'm playing poker.
When you play with the same people alot, they will see that. So you have to change it a bit after a while.

 

[Dsqtq]

I use slowplay when i have nuts

 

[Dejana]

I am always torn between slow and fast playing my strong hands... but slow playing hides strength of your hand by laying trap for opponents!

 

[danoscar]

To Slow Play or Not To Slow Play?

Just read and printed out the article on slow-play. On a dry board, slow playing by flat calling on the flop and turn is a power play for sure!
If a flush draw comes up on the river, on many occasions, I will raise about half to see just where my opponent stands.
Not a fan of slow-play, but it can be very profitable.

 

[dlam]

Don’t like to slow play. Don’t get value. Last time slow played worked was when I got quads on a board that was had trips The other guy didn’t believe me. I had to do some acting as well as slow play

 

[M13A13]

I had no understanding that the fast and slow way would have a strategy. I also did not know the concepts of dry and wet table.
This understanding comes to us to help improve my game and will certainly bring greater profits.

 

[jingler]

I do not like when opponents specifically slow down the game in online poker. I think it is more suitable for playing live poker, where people have the opportunity to communicate, learn opponents and their reaction to the actions of other players. To slow down time in online poker is to delay tournaments, many of which already last a lot of time.

 

[GRIN281289]

Thank you very much for the excellent article. If I have a good hand, I play it slowly but not always depending on which players play against me. With the number of games I began to understand what to think and not to rush, but everything again depends on the table which players and you sometimes just have to play quickly.

 

[PeedroZack]

constantily I see the players doing that, but they dont know what they are doing and I take it like a tell and took good decisions