Learning To Play Poker - Simple Strategies To Win

This article will address the main question of whether to slowplay or be aggressive. Probably more than once you've thought: "Hey I have the nuts! I'll let villain hit his hand and so i can get valued from him! "

It has happened me sometimes, but it isn't always the right mindset to have. I want to start by defining what slowplay is:

Slow play is when you check or call a bet to be able to "under-represent" your hand vs . villain, so he may "over-play" his own hand.

Remember that to slow play, you will need to have a near-unbeatable hand, such as a emerge a super dry flop, or the nut straight in a non-flush non-paired board.

Also, you cannot slow play (well you can't but will be unprofitable) against a new player who is passive. Player has to really be considered a maniac to play, because otherwise you're going to get checked behind.

Duc Volpe 2c 2d

3 more players enter the pot.

Flop: 2s, 7c, 8s

In this example we see that Duc_Volpe includes a set of deuces. It would be unprofitable for him to slow play here because it's a multi-way pot and it's really a drawy board; it's bound to occur often a player here may hold here a flush draw and most likely chase it until the river.

If Duc_Volpe decides to slow play here a few things may happen:
A new player may complete the flush with a non 7 spade and we become 22: 77 underdogs


Everyone else checks and Duc_Volpe loses here the proper way to play the hand is always to go ahead bet or check-raise. I like check-raise here because it gets additional money in the pot and because I don't like to bet in front of everyone when I don't have the initiative (that is: aktifpoker I did not raise preflop, but called instead).

HOWEVER....

One thing that takes place in micros with slow playing is the next: you aren't going to profit much using this strategy.

People in micros like to call a bet rather than make it themselves. And it sounds logical as they are weak players who don't like to "risk money" once they do not have a hand yet, but are able to pay up to the river to see if indeed they complete their hand.

So in general, being aggressive is a much better way to go, because even in flops as dry as they could possibly get, if people hold suited cards they could be willing to call to see if the turn brings them a draw, or to see if their overcard hit.

So let's wrap it up very quickly:

In order to slow play, you need both a monster hand and an aggressive player. In addition, you need to be notably consistent with your actions because if you've never slow played any hand, it will look extremely suspicious even to fishes that do not give consideration.

Slow playing might work if the condition above is fulfilled, otherwise, you are going to have a much easier time extracting value out of your monsters by playing the hand straight-forwardly. Understand that people in micros like to call a lot more than they prefer to bet!

Best of luck At The Tables!