What Is Slow Playing in Poker?

Slow playing is often referred to as the opposite of bluffing. Where the point of a bluff is to bet in a way that implies you have a stronger hand than you actually do, the point of slow playing is to underbet on a strong hand to give your opponents the impression that it is weaker than it actually is. To many beginners this seems counter-intuitive, but when the blinds are big and many players are quick to fold, slow playing may be the best way to get the pot your hand deserves.

When to Slow Play a Hand

There are a few conditions that make a slow play the optimal move. For one, you should be very certain that you already have the best hand. Furthermore, you should have plenty of outs available to improve your hand, as you are allowing your opponents to draw better hands too. The pot should be low (initially) and you should feel certain that betting aggressively will cause other players to fold, significantly reducing the final value of your pot. Slow playing is one of the few moves where an early position has an advantage, because it tells the players after you have a weak hand, whereas a late position player calling may just be satisfied with what has already been contributed to the pot.

Slow Playing Strategies

Suppose you are playing Hold 'em and are dealt a pair of oh-so desirable pocket Aces. As mentioned above, if you are in the final rounds and the blinds are high, a big bet will cause most players looking for a chance to go all in to fold. If you want to keep as many players contributing as possible, you have two options. First, you can check and hope someone else does the betting for you. Second, you can place a weak bet. Late in the game, many players are betting on marginal hands, so a weak bet is unlikely to wave any red flags.

Let's say the flop is AJ10 with the J10 suited. Obviously the flop has improved your hand significantly, and there is a good chance one of your hole cards is suited to the J10 for an outside chance at a flush or straight. Of course it is important to remember that this hand also offers outs to your opponents. Should one draw a straight, your three of a kind has been beaten. One of the biggest mistakes amateurs make when attempting a slow play is not knowing when to make their move. If you are satisfied with the pot and your hand is now being threatened (as in the example above), then you should bet more aggressively the second round. Only slow play a hand as long as you are sure that it is the best hand at the table.