Slow-Playing
One of the few times that you might want to slow playing is when you have a low hand that is not likely to be beat.
Since you can win only half the pot, this becomes a good times to draw other players in.
For example, suppose you have a made on fifth street.
You are in a multiway pot, there are no other completed lows, two or three treys are dead, and no one has what could be a wheel draw.
Since someone most likely will have to catch perfect twice to beat your hand, you may want to slow-play and get some extra customers.
The exception to slow-playing is if you think a bet or raise may drive out everyone except another low hand.
Now you might be able to make a small pair – or just catch a high card – and scoop the pot.
Also, notice that if you get beat for low in this spot, since your opponent must catch low cards, your chances of winning high with a weak hand go up (as long as your opponent does not make a wheel).
However, if you have a high draw to go along with your low hand, you may want to play hard and fast, since you also have a chance to win high.
For instance, in the example just given, if the treys were all live, you probably would not want to slow-play your hand.
When holding a high hand, you should not slow-play, as you have a chance to win the whole pot if no one makes the low.
Consequently, you don’t want to encourage too many low hands to come in against you.
When you have a very big high hand, such as a full house or an ace-high flush, that is not likely to be beat by what you see out against you, it becomes correct to slow-play when it’s obvious that a low has been made and you know this player will stay to the end.
Since you are going to split anyway, you may want to slow down, as it doesn’t pay to drive out players at this point.
But if there is any chance that a low has not yet been made, it is best to eliminate players.
This is especially true if someone else has a chance to make a high hand and beat you. Now you hope to get to play poker against a busted low hand, which is one of your bigger earns.
Introduction / Position / Playing the High Hands / Bluffing / Slow-Playing / Knowing Your Opponents / Raising Aggressively / The Toughest Decision of All / Staying to the End / Pairing the Door Card / Keeping Track of the Cards / Scare Cards / An Expert Play / Another Good Play / Quick Notes / Afterthought
