Trap
A trap is a play with a strong hand that looks weak, such as checking or calling, so that opponents will bet or bluff into you. It is another name for slow playing.
The simple explanation
If you flop a very strong hand and check, you hope that your opponent will bet. When he does, you can call or raise and win more than if you had bet yourself. Trapping works best when the opponent is aggressive.
A closer look
Traps are risky: you give opponents free cards, and a draw can beat you. They work best on dry boards where few cards can hurt you, and against players who bet when checked to. If you trap too often, your checks become a sign of strength. On the other hand, if you never trap, your bets show strength. Good players mix traps and bets to stay unpredictable.
A practical example
You flop a set of tens on 10♠ 6♣ 2♦ and check. Your opponent bets, and you raise.
Full explanation
A trap is a play with a strong hand that looks weak, such as checking or calling, so that opponents will bet or bluff into you. It is another name for slow playing.
A trap is a strong hand played as if it were weak.
The goal is to get the opponent to put in more chips.
It works against aggressive players and on dry boards.
It is risky on wet boards.
A trap
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB QQueen of clubs (Qc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB 1010 of diamonds (Td)1010 of hearts (Th) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB QQueen of clubs (Qc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 1010 of diamonds (Td)1010 of hearts (Th) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB QQueen of clubs (Qc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 1010 of diamonds (Td)1010 of hearts (Th) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B flops a set of tens, a very strong hand.
Board: 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB QQueen of clubs (Qc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 1010 of diamonds (Td)1010 of hearts (Th) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks to set a trap: he plays a strong hand as if it were weak so that Player A will bet.
Board: 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB QQueen of clubs (Qc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 1010 of diamonds (Td)1010 of hearts (Th) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.