Fast Play vs. Slow Playing hands

Fast Play vs. Slow Playing hands- When you are playing a hand faster than you should it means that you see your opponent having a callable hand. Also, it means that you have a big hand and are willing to risk a possible fold by your opponent. If they do have a big hand a lot of the time they will raise your bet or call. If you are slow playing a hand it means that you have a virtually unbeatable hand. If you have a hand like a full house or better you should most definitely be slow playing it. If you decide to fast play a full house or four of a kind you will not get paid off a lot of the time. The only reason to fast play an unbeatable hand is if you and your opponent are at odds with each other. If you are at odds with each you can lead with a big hand and get paid off, but most of the time it is best to slow play hands like full houses or four of a kind.

The key to making a fast play at a pot is to be against an aggressive opponent who will make a raise back at you. If you have been sitting for awhile playing with your poker bonus amount and your opponent is consistently playing back at you this is a spot where it is perfect to fast play a big hand. If you lead a flop with the nuts and you get raised you can just call his raise and lead for a small amount on the turn. You could also check raise all-in on the turn if you feel like they are committed to a pot. When you are making a fast play you want to get them to raise you; that is the whole point. If they call you or float the flop you can bet a smaller amount on the turn in hopes of a raise. If you show that you are weak they will call a lot of the time or raise. You will be putting chips in the pot and having them returned to you; which are what you want. To get all of their money in the pot is tricky, and you need to be against the right opponent or the right hand.

To slow play a big hand is when you are making consistent checks and calls at a board. If you make the nuts or close to it on the flop you can check to your opponent and more times than not they will bet it. If they do bet you shouldn’t spring the trap just yet. You should be letting them know on the river. If you are playing in position it is a lot easier to trap an opponent by slow playing a made hand. If that opponent also happens to be aggressive you are in great shape. You can float two streets of bets and then shove your stack on the river. It looks even better if all of the draws have missed the board and you shove a big bet out because it now looks like a bluff. If you can get your opponent to think you have nothing when you have the nuts you have made an effective slow play.