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Slowplaying in Online Poker

The slowplay is a tactic that is often misused, both in online poker and live poker. Slowplaying can be an effective way of earning chips, both live and online, if used correctly. Consider the following when deciding whether or not to slowplay.

What is a Slowplay?

A slowplay is the opposite of a bluff. While when bluffing, you bet or raise to represent a good hand when you have a weak one, when slowplaying, a player checks or calls to represent a weak hand when they actually have a strong one.

Slowplaying Live vs. Online

Often the circumstances which dictate whether you should slowplay will be the same whether you are playing live or online. However, online players tend to be a little looser and will call you more often, so in some cases the best way to get the most chips with your strong hand will be simply to bet out with it right away.

Times You Should Be Inclined to Slowplay Online

When Your Hand is So Strong That Opponents Cannot Catch Up to You
If you have 8s 8c in a Texas hold’em game and the flop is 8d 8h 3h, you have a virtual lock on the hand. However, it is unlikely that any opponent hit any part of this flop, so a bet might lose all of your action. If an ace or a heart comes on the turn, opponents may catch up just enough to feel compelled to bet or call your future bets, but they still have almost no chance to win.

When An Opponent is Leading the Action
If an opponent raises pre-flop and continues to bet after you flop the nut flush, you do not want to raise and alert him that your hand is strong. He may easily bluff off all of his chips or lose a big pot to you with a weaker flush as long as you continue to let him lead the way and give him tempting poker odds.

Times You Should Not Be Inclined to Slowplay Online

When Your Hand is Vulnerable
If you have As Kh and the flop is Ad Td 5s, you should be betting. Opponents may well have flush or straight draws and you do not want to give them a freeroll to making their big hands. In addition, in a hand like this, you will get action from weaker aces whenever you bet, but only get action from other hands if they catch up to beat you.

When Slowplaying Will Not Win You Any More Bets
If you make the nut flush on the river and check, your opponents will probably check behind you. If the board is too scary, or if your opponent has not made any kind of hand by the river, they will not give you any action no matter what you do. If giving free cards or showing weakness does not seem like it will earn you any more action, you might as well just bet out.
Try these advice and keep yourself updated by reading relevant threads on your preferred poker forum.