Don Not Slow Play Your Way Away From Large Pots!
March 28th, 2011 at 12:21
Gradual bet on can be a term used in poker – specially Texas Holdem – for trying to lure your opponents into producing a large bet so that you can trap them and take down an enormous pot.
It is usually used having a incredibly beneficial pre-flop hands such as pocket Aces on Kings. Instead of wagering big, the gradual player will sit back and limp in (call or check) as if he does not have a palm worth betting, hoping that an opponent will have caught a lower pair or a straight draw and will come in with a big bet.
It is actually a classic poker manouever and one which has won a great deal of money for poker players down by way of the ages, but it has lost it is effectiveness. The basic reason for this is that everybody is now sluggish betting their massive hands so it is practically expected.
So how do you use this situation to your advantage?
If you catch an enormous hand, you have to arrive out betting. Rather than attempting to tempt your competitors into creating a move so that you can come in over the top, produce the wager yourself. Now most amateur players baulk at the thought of this in case the rest of the table folds and they "waste" their massive palm, except in reality you are going to usually generally have a number of betting action from somebody.
By betting your huge hands as opposed to slow playing it, you are performing a double bluff since most people would slow bet on it. Your opponents will often assume that you are bluffing and you’ll acquire a few wagering action and ultimately win a lot more money.
The other reason you ought to wager is that in case you do not bet, you’re allowing your competitors a no cost look in the cards and every time a card is turned over they could possibly be converting a losing palm to a winning one.
There is only one predicament where it will always pay to slow wager on your hand – when you flop an absolute monster that practically cannot be beaten. For example say you happen to be dealt Ace, Four of clubs and the flop is Queen, Ten, 9 of clubs. You have just flopped the nut flush and you are pretty much unbeatable. OK anyone could have a pair of Queens, 10s or 9s and catch a fourth on the turn or river, or they could be holding the King of clubs and catch the Jack for a straight flush, but the odds of you not winning are now remote.
This is the time to sluggish play your hand. You will discover all sorts of hands that anyone else may be holding to generate them feel they are in a great position here; two other clubs, a straight draw, triples and even just a Queen for the top pair, whatever they’ve got the chances are anyone will feel it is worth betting. If the flop or river produces a King, Queen Jack, Ten or 9 you may possibly receive a big raise and even an all-in from somebody.
Now you let them create the pot up by just calling the bets and take down the pot with your nut flush.