Slowplaying Big Hands

Hi Guys,

Slowplay is a term for playing a strong hand passively to keep the opposition in the game, to give the impression of a weaker hand and give the opportunity to your opponents to improve their hand giving them false hopes of winning. However when you slowplay then you risk giving an opponent the chance to catch up and overtake you.
If the board is showing “dangerous” cards for your opponent. For example three cards to a ♦ flush, and you have hit the diamonds flush, then it may be better to slowplay as your opponents will be scared off quite rapidly. If you have the nut flush (an Ace♦ on your hole cards or a K♦ with the Ace♦ on the board) it may be the right thing to give a free card hoping that your opponent is holding one card (like a Q♦) to the flush and catches up a bit on the next card.
On the contrary, if the board is showing frightening cards for you - then take the pot down there (don’t wait to end this hand as another “bad beat story”). So if there is two cards to a flush or a straight chance which would beat your good hand, then make your opponents pay to see another card and make them play against the odds if they are on a draw.
Be carefull slowplaying versus multiple players. If there is more than one opponent in the pot with you, try to restrict the field down with a bet. With more than one opponent in the pot there is more chance one of them will catch up.

Best Regards