Should I Slow-Play?

[Hans Griese]

Playing 1/2 (very often 1/2/4). Table is very splashy and loose, lots of speculative calls/jams…so I’m playing very snug. Main villain is playing tight, but definitely in a lot of pots. He’s a decent player, but values top/mid pair a lot, and will chase sometimes.

AcQh in MP, I call a $10 open. 4 of us see the flop, which comes AQ7, two clubs. The opener checks, player to his left bets $25. I raise to $75, they all fold.

I figured I was good, but was hoping he had a piece to continue. I’m not un-happy with the result (won $55), but seems like maybe slow-playing this might work. This may also be a little results-oriented…I showed just my ace after the hand, and he said, “I think your ace had mine beat”. I then asked if he had any clubs, and he said no. So I was going to be very good on the hand…this time. But maybe others would have called behind chasing for just $25. I think I’m answering my own question here, but would appreciate any insight!

Cheers and good luck all!

[David Wibel]

I’m an almost habitual slow player. I’ll comment on the hand then about slowplaying in general.

With this hand particular depending on where you were seated this may be a 3-bet. Mainly just on the blinds but it can be worth a 3-bet. On the flop I think raising is fine. I don’t think a bluff is likely from the bettor with 3 others in the hand so he has some sort of value hand. If he had a really bad Ax like A4 or A8 with no clubs, like he apparently has he may fold but like AT or AJ with a club will call. You having the Ac also reduces the bluff potential of Ax of clubs.

In general, you only want to slow play hands that are really unlikely to be beat from the flop onwards. Hands like a Set on a dry board like J63. Don’t slow play vulnerable hands like bottom two pair on KQT or 967 especially on flush or flush draw boards

[John S]

I’m generally not a slow-player, and I find that people tend to pay off on early streets more than on later streets. But that’s not to say you should never slow play.

This board, it’s kind of close. You have to think of what he can call you with. The only real hand that beats you is 77. A7 will call, and Q7 if he has it. Maybe AK or AJ assuming he doesn’t 3-bet AK pre. So that leave flush draws that may call. But, since you have the Ace of clubs, he can’t have pair + flush draw or the nut flush draw. KJcc, KJcc, or JTcc is a combo draw, so those may lead the flop and call your raise. So those are what he may call your raise with. But he also has a lot of weak Aces he’s going to lead and fold to your raise.

That’s why I think this is close and might just call once, planning to raise the turn. You have the Ace of clubs, so if a club comes to have a redraw to the nuts.

[Joseph]

Hello,
As played after this pre flop action, for sure with 4 players seeing the flop you have to bet.

As you have mentioned the table being very splashy, I will opt for 3betting the flop to isolate the raiser with a strong hand as AQ.

Another key information you have not included is the stack size of your villain.

Thanks for sharing. Good luck at the tables.

[Author]

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