Tip #7 - Don't slow play your big hands too often

Slow playing (also known as sandbagging) is when you play a strong hand weakly in order to trap your opponents. While this can be an effective strategy in some situations, it is generally overused by most players. The problem with slow playing is that you are giving your opponents a chance to outdraw you for free or for a small price.

For example, suppose you hold A♠ A♣ in early position. Three players call behind you, and the flop comes A♥ 7♦ 2♣, giving you three aces. This may seem like a perfect time to slow play, but consider what could happen. If there is a flush draw on board, you are giving your opponents a free chance to complete their flush. Even if there isn't a flush draw, straight draws or even a pair might catch up if given free cards.

The better play is usually to bet your hand strongly. This accomplishes several things:

• You protect your hand against draws
• You build the pot when you likely have the best hand
• You gain information about the strength of your opponents' hands based on their reactions to your bet

There are times when slow playing is correct. The most common situation is when the board is very unlikely to produce draws that could beat you. For instance, if you hold K♠ K♣ and the flop comes K♥ K♦ 2♣, you can be fairly certain that no draw can beat you. Even in this case, however, you should usually bet if there are several opponents in the pot, as you want to build a big pot with your monster hand.

Another consideration is your opponents' playing styles. Against very aggressive players who bet and raise frequently, slow playing can be more profitable. These players will do your betting for you, and you can then raise to build the pot. Against passive players who tend to call but rarely bet or raise, you should almost never slow play. These players will usually call your bets with worse hands, but they won't bet if you check to them.