Conservative Crust Poker

Slow playing a hand on Full Tilt Poker means to play a hand in a manner that suggests the strength of your hand is far weaker than it actually is. By playing a hand slow, you can trick your opposition into thinking you are weak, when you are in fact strong. Slow playing often lets the opposing player feel comfortable betting into you aggressively until you spring the trap at the very end.

Standard tight-aggressive poker strategy suggests that players should bet aggressively with strong or made hands in order to build big pots with big hands and avoid the problem of winning small pots with big hands, the occasional slow play is a great way to trap your opposition and change up your game.

How to Slow Play

Typically when out of position and in possession of a monster, checking to a strong, aggressive poker player is all it takes to set the slow play into motion. When the player bets into you, sometimes a mere call is justified, while other times going for the check-raise is appropriate. Assess each move on a case-by-case basis. Whether calling or check-raising, eventually the trap needs to be sprung. At some point, you will have to bet or raise. Use good judgment in determining when the best time to spring the trap is

When to Slow Play

You typically want to slow play when you have flopped a monster on FullTilt and your hand has little chance of being outdrawn. However, by checking you believe your opposition will bet or will benefit greatly from a free card. Additionally, a slow play is well timed when you have been running over the table, and the players are becoming frustrated – looking to bully you for a bit

Dangers of Slow Playing

While slow playing is designed to trap the opposition, from time to time a player can stick around and make a hand cheaply. Thus, your flopped monster gets rivered. The main danger of slow playing is being outdrawn by a second best hand.

Unless you have a very strong hand, slow playing is a great way to let others in to beat you, and spew your own chips. Slow playing is an effective technique to change gears and trap opposing players. By using the slow play effectively and sparingly, you will rise up the ranks of the poker world.