Slow-playing in hold’ em can be a dangerous practice (as discussed in the previous article in this series), but when executed properly it can be a very lucrative way to play a hand. In fact it is often the best way to extract value from a situation. When looking to slow-play you need to be clear about the range and type of hands your opponent has and also how your hand looks to your opponent.
Let’s say you call a pre-flop raise with 6c-6d in position against a predictable opponent who has raised in early position and the flop comes a beautiful As-6h-2c. On this flop you can be extremely confident you have the best hand (bar your opponent holding pocket Aces), and with no flush draws you will almost always have the best hand after the turn and river. Your mission is to extract as much value as humanly possible. When your opponent makes a continuation-bet on the flop his hand range contains hands with an Ace that have been helped by the flop, pocket pairs below the Ace as well as the odd connecting hand that has completely whiffed.
It may seem natural to raise here as you have the best hand almost 100% of the time. The problem is that if you make a raise your opponent will fold all of the hands that haven’t been helped by the flop. He may even fold some hands that contain an Ace because the board is so dry and you’ve come out showing so much strength. In this situation you will make more money by slow-playing and just calling the bet on the flop with the plan to raise either the turn or river. Your call may encourage your opponent to keep bluffing if he’s missed the flop or think that he’s value-betting you with top pair and a stronger kicker.
Giving the game away
It’s important to realise when slow-playing that it may cost you chips if your play is not consistent or gives away information about your play. For example, if you have been continuation betting most flops but suddenly check in a spot where you would be expected to bet, your thinking opponents will smell a rat. Think about the following situation: you raise in early position with K-K and the flop comes K-7-2 to give you the nuts. If you now check rather than making your regular continuation-bet it may look strange, and an observant player may get wary and shut down with a hand like 8-8 or 9-9. It’s too bad as you have the deck crippled, but you probably have to bet to maintain the value of your c-bets to make your play hard to read.