Slowplaying Article / Slowplaying Top Set
Editor's note: This is the combination of two blog posts from Andrew, both about 'slowplaying'.
Slowplaying
My latest poker strategy article, Slowplaying, is a meditation on a variety of topics related to slowplaying: what it costs you, when to do it, which types of boards and opponents are best, etc. Here’s an excerpt from the introduction:
“[Y]ou must weigh the advantages of slowplaying against what you would have won from second-best hands that would have paid you off on three streets but end up losing a smaller pot because of your slowplay. In a fixed limit game, this usually costs you just one small bet if you slowplay the flop. In a big bet game, it costs you a lot more, because pot and bet sizes grows geometrically. In other words, a bigger pot on the flop means a bigger pot on the turn means a much bigger pot, and therefore a much bigger bet, on the river. Thus, slowplaying in big bet games carries a much larger cost than it does in fixed limit games.”
As always, I’m eager to hear what you think!
Slowplaying Top Set
In my recent poker strategy article, Slowplaying, I emphasize how much a failure to build the pot can cost you when you slowplay a huge hand in NLHE. One of the exceptions I discuss is when you have an aggressive opponent who may help you to build the pot:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, $10 BB (9 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerSavvyPlus.com
Hero ($1000)
SB ($991.70)
BB ($452.75)
UTG ($1728.50)
UTG+1 ($1187)
MP1 ($1384)
MP2 ($2107.50)
MP3 ($1040)
CO ($1110)
Preflop: Hero is Button with 9d, 9s.
4 folds, MP3 raises to $25, CO calls $25, Hero calls $25, 2 folds.
Flop: ($90) 9h, 4s, 2h (3 players)
MP3 checks, CO checks, Hero checks.
Turn: ($90) Th (3 players)
MP3 bets $65.25, CO folds, Hero raises to $222, MP3 raises to $508.75, Hero raises to $975, MP3 folds.
Final Pot: $1573.75
It’s also important to note how unlikely a second-best hand is on the flop. This is a great spot to stab at the pot as a bluff or for protection with a vulnerable pair (which I may end up turning into a bluff if called), precisely because it’s unlikely either opponent can call three big bets.
Although there are some draws, the low straight is unlikely, and flushes are discounted since neither player bet. The pre-flop raiser in particular can be expected to continuation bet a flush draw almost always, so when he bets the turn I think it’s far more likely he turned a flush draw than a flush. Even when he reps it hard, I don’t give him credit, and sure enough he seems like he didn’t even have the draw.