| This article will address the main question of whether | | | | here the right way to play the hand is to go ahead bet |
| to slowplay or be aggressive. Probably more than | | | | or check-raise. I like check-raise here because it gets |
| once you've thought: "Hey I have the nuts! I'll let villain hit | | | | more money in the pot and because I don't like to bet |
| his hand so I can get valued from him!" | | | | in front of everyone when I don't have the initiative |
| It has happened me sometimes, but it is not always the | | | | (that is: I didn't raise preflop, but called instead). |
| right mindset to have. Let me start by defining what | | | | HOWEVER.... |
| slowplay is: | | | | One thing that happens in micros with slow playing is |
| Slow play is when you check or call a bet in order to | | | | the next: you're not going to profit much from this |
| "under-represent" your hand vs. villain, so he may | | | | strategy. |
| "over-play" his own hand. | | | | People in micros like to call a bet rather than make it |
| Keep in mind that to slow play, you really need to have | | | | themselves. And it sounds logical as they're weak |
| a near-unbeatable hand, such as a set in a super dry | | | | players who don't like to "risk money" when they do |
| flop, or the nut straight in a non-flush non-paired board. | | | | not have a hand yet, but are willing to pay up to the |
| Also, you cannot slow play (well you can't but will be | | | | river to see if they complete their hand. |
| unprofitable) against a player who is passive. Player | | | | So in general, being aggressive is a much better way |
| needs to really be a maniac to play, because | | | | to go, because even in flops as dry as they can get, if |
| otherwise you're going to get checked behind. | | | | people hold suited cards they might be willing to call to |
| Duc Volpe 2c 2d | | | | see if the turn brings them a draw, or to see if their |
| 3 more players enter the pot. | | | | overcard hit. |
| Flop: 2s, 7c, 8s | | | | So let's wrap it up very quickly: |
| In this example we see that Duc_Volpe has a set of | | | | In order to slow play, you need both a monster hand |
| deuces. It would be unprofitable for him to slow play | | | | and an aggressive player. You also need to be |
| here because it's a multi-way pot and it's a drawy | | | | somewhat consistent with your actions because if |
| board; it's bound to happen often that a player here | | | | you've never slow played any hand, it will look |
| may hold here a flush draw and most likely chase it | | | | extremely suspicious even to fishes that do not pay |
| until the river. | | | | attention. |
| If Duc_Volpe decides to slow play here two things | | | | Slow playing might work if the condition above is |
| may happen: | | | | fulfilled, otherwise, you're going to have a much easier |
| - A player may complete the flush with a non 7 spade | | | | time extracting value out of your monsters by playing |
| and we become 22:77 underdogs | | | | the hand straight-forwardly. Remember that people in |
| - Everyone checks and Duc_Volpe loses value.So | | | | micros like to call more than they like to bet! |