Slow play
Playing a very strong hand passively — checking or calling instead of betting — to keep opponents in the pot or induce a bluff. Effective against aggressive players, costly against passive ones and on draw-heavy boards.
Frequently asked questions
What is slow playing in poker?
Deliberately playing a strong hand passively — checking or just calling — to conceal its strength and win more later. Also called trapping or sandbagging.
When is slow playing correct?
When the board is so dry that nothing the opponent holds can continue against a bet, when you hold a hand near the nuts with little to fear from the next card, and against aggressive opponents who will bet for you. The conditions are narrow.
Why is it usually a mistake?
Because it gives free cards and forfeits the two or three streets of value the hand was worth. Building the pot while you are ahead earns more than the occasional extra bet a trap produces — and it is a slow play that turns a monster into a disaster when the board changes. Slow play is not the same as a slow roll, which is a breach of etiquette after the hand is over.