Poker's Biggest Thrill - Slow Playing

What is Slow Playing?

Slow playing is a strategy used to deceive your opponents into thinking that you have a weaker hand than you actually have.

By initially playing a weak hand, you are giving confidence to your opponents that they may have stronger hands.

You are therefore encouraging your opponents to bet into your winning hand. The end result is a bigger pot for you to win.

The Thrill of Slow Playing

Part of the thrill of playing poker is the opportunity to create a deception by slow playing a hand and taking a large pot of chips from under your opponent's nose.

There is no greater satisfaction when playing poker than beating other players, by surprise and deception.

Good slow playing takes time to perfect - it's a game of psychology. Stalling, checking, raising and playing cards other players are surprised you are playing.

Slow playing is about sending a message out to other players that your hand is weaker than it really is and giving them a false sense of security.

A satisfactory conclusion to a slow playing hand is, your opponent bets into your winning hand, the pot gets bigger and you take it! There is no greater satisfaction in poker than this.

Slow Playing Requires Discipline

Slow-playing is used for one purpose only - winning more chips in situations where being too aggressive from the start will not achieve this.

Slow playing a hand needs to be used sparingly to be effective - only when the circumstances are right.