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Everyone knows that slow playing is a strategy used to disguise a strong hand by betting weakly. In the subsequent betting rounds, your opponents' actions toward you are driven by one of two reasons: 1) They have assembled some valuable hand that's worth betting on; 2) They believe their medium-strength hand is good enough, especially since you checked in earlier betting rounds.
Slow playing is typically used in the turn.
The turn is the optimal point for slow playing. Its value diminishes in the river, and its use is almost negligible in the river!
Using slow play on the turn essentially forfeits the opportunity to extract more money from opponents in the turn, so you must have a compelling reason to encourage such behavior. For example, if you have a very strong hand and believe your opponents have weak hands, you might want to induce them to bet on the river, even if it's just one bet—it's better than nothing!
However, some players mistakenly think slow playing on the turn and then betting big on the river is a poor strategy. They focus solely on the "betting big" aspect, enjoying the thrill of confidently saying, "I'm going to bet big!" They slow play, thinking they'll save the big bet for the river. I find this to be a flawed approach because it ignores the potential to build a larger pot by taking opportunities to bet throughout the hand. The following discussion will make you reconsider slow playing, unless there's a good reason.
### Slow Playing Considerations
**Avoid Slow Playing in Multiway Pots**
Do not use slow play in this situation. In Texas Hold'em, the turn is crucial—especially in multiway pots. The bet is already double, but if your opponents still have a chance to improve their hands, they are more likely to call. When you have a very strong hand, it's advisable to maintain aggression in this situation. This creates an opportunity to induce two or more opponents to call without raising. In the river, they are unlikely to call with a drawing hand!
Therefore, in multiway pots, it's generally wise to remain aggressive when you have a strong hand and not automatically resort to slow playing.
**Don't Slow Play When Your Hand Improves**
I point this out because I occasionally see opponents slow playing in combination with semi-bluffing. For instance, a player in late position holds As-10s. The flop comes Ks-Qs-3d, and the players before him check. He bets to create a semi-bluffing effect. Three opponents call. The turn is 7s, and everyone checks to him again. Instead of betting, he opts for a slow play. This is absurd. If you're betting with a flush draw and then hit the flush on the turn, there's no reason to stop betting. Your opponents may suspect a flush, but that doesn't mean they won't call on the turn. You have the best hand and should continue to extract value from potential flush draws.
When your hand improves, don't automatically resort to slow playing. Always consider the dynamics of the hand and whether maintaining aggression is more profitable.
**Don't Slow Play to Conceal Your Hand**
Avoid getting fixated on the idea that betting reveals your hole cards. I recall a hand where the flop showed 4-4-9, and I held 3-4. I bet from an early position, thinking opponents were likely to call. The plan worked as expected, and the turn brought another 4. I bet again and got two calls. The river was an Ace, and I bet once more, receiving a raise. Throughout the hand, my betting didn't reveal my hand. Clearly, my opponents believed I only had a 9. They suspected nothing more, and this led to winning a substantial pot with a seemingly weaker hand.
Similarly, don't disregard opponents who use slow playing on the flop and then become aggressive on the turn. In one instance, the flop revealed A-A-9, and I held A-Q. I bet and got several calls. On the turn, a Q appeared, and an opponent employed a check-raise strategy after I checked. I re-raised, and the opponent called. In this case, the opponent had A-J and used slow play on the turn after my check. By not using slow play initially, I won four big bets (three opponents on the turn and two on the river) with a powerful hand. If I had fallen in love with slow playing, I would have won only two big bets in this hand, missing the opportunity for more!
In conclusion, slow playing is a situational strategy, and its success depends on various factors. It's crucial to assess the dynamics of the hand, your opponents' tendencies, and the potential for value extraction. Don't be tempted to use slow play for its own sake; instead, consider its merits in specific situations to maximize your poker strategy. |
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Post time 23-11-2023 07:37:55