Slow Play
A slow play is a way of playing a strong hand weakly, by checking or calling instead of betting or raising, to hide your strength and win more chips. It is the opposite of fast-playing.
The simple explanation
If you flop a very strong hand, you may check and let your opponent bet. The idea is that he will put more chips into the pot, or bluff. It works best when the board is dry and the opponent is aggressive.
A closer look
Slow playing is often overused. It gives opponents free cards, which can beat you, and you may lose value if they check back. It is best in spots where few cards can hurt you and where the opponent will bet with weaker hands. On wet boards, betting is better. Good players mix slow plays with bets to remain unpredictable. The related terms are trap and check-raise.
A practical example
You flop a set of queens on Q♠ 7♣ 2♦ and check, hoping that the opponent bets.
Full explanation
A slow play is a way of playing a strong hand weakly, by checking or calling instead of betting or raising, to hide your strength and win more chips. It is the opposite of fast-playing.
Slow play means playing a strong hand passively.
The aim is to win more chips.
It works on dry boards against aggressive opponents.
It is risky on wet boards.
Alternative spelling: slowplay, slow-play
Slow playing
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 diamonds (Qd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB QQueen of diamonds (Qd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)88 of clubs (8c) · 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 diamonds (Qd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A flops a set of queens.
Board: QQueen of spades (Qs)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB QQueen of diamonds (Qd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: QQueen of spades (Qs)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB QQueen of diamonds (Qd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks behind with a very strong hand to let Player B catch up. Playing a strong hand weakly like this is a slow play.
Board: QQueen of spades (Qs)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB QQueen of diamonds (Qd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.