A Beginner's Guide to Slow Playing

Because players want to get the most from their big hands, they often try to slow play them. However, the fact is that slow playing in Poker is a complex strategy, and to do it well, you must know the facts and the circumstances very well.

The most important thing that you need to know before you use this Poker strategy is that for it to work, you must have the best hand; not good hands, but the best, something that you are certain will win the pot. For example, if you are holding Ace/King and the flop gives you KKA, or you have a pair of Queens and the board gives you the four of a kind.

In these examples, you are absolutely certain that you have the monster Poker hands. You can slow play all the way to the river with the confidence of knowing you are almost certain to win the pot. You can either, check call or call, and be content to just sit back and see how your opponents play. One of the best scenarios that unfold is for a flush to hit the board. This will give a player the idea that he has the nuts, and will raise.

One of the mistakes that new Poker players make is that they often try to slow play when they have a flush or straight. That may be all right in some instances, but you must be more cautious. For example, if your straight is only Jack high and the board has a King, then you are in danger of losing to a higher straight.

The same thing can be said with a flush. In addition, if the flop is paired, you also have the potential of running into a full house. For this reason, it is best that if you have a flush or straight draw, your Poker strategy should be to raise and eliminate as many opponents as possible.

It is also a common sight in online Poker to see players slow play pocket Aces. This is something you should avoid, because the Ace that gave you the high pair, if it comes with other face cards, might give your opponents a two pair.

Slow playing is one of the most profitable Poker strategies that you can avail of in the game. All it takes is the proper know how, and once you have a grasp of this, you will be able to extract a lot of money from the other players on the table.