The Check Raise
| Bet Type | Objective | Bet Range |
| Check raise/Slow Playing | Act weak in the hope of inducing action from opponent | Check |
Slow playing is a powerful tool in your arsenal, which you should use to extract additional chips from your opponent who wouldn't more often than not commit many chips to a particular pot. However, you ought to be careful when using this type of bet. David Sklansky gives some timeless guidelines:
- You must have a strong hand.
- You are quite sure that will drive other players out by showing aggression, but that you have good chances of winning an even larger pot if you don't.
- The free card (or cheaper card) that you are allowing other players to get has good possibilities of them second best hands.
- That same free card poses little chance of making someone a better hand
As effective as this move can be, it does present increased risk allowing your opponent the chance to catch up and overtake your hand. For this reason, you should only employ this play with strong hands and in certain situations.
Slow playing works by acting weak in hopes of hiding your strength. With any luck, this will induce a bluff or at least a misinformed bet from your opponent to get him to commit his chips to the pot.
For example your hole cards are:
Flop comes down...
You've flopped a straight! However, a good opponent should spot the straight possibility on the flop and will play cautious.
If you were to make a value bet of half of the pot, chances are the other player may put you the winning cards and fold. However if you check, your opponent may wonder if you are concerned he hit the straight. Your challenger bets hoping you will fold.
You can reveal your strength or call and continue the check raise into the next round of betting.
By making this move you are luring your foe into committing his chips to the pot whereby increasing the size of the pot in a situation where you possess the NUTS.
Now the danger with slow playing is you give others the chance to catch up. You also run the risk of giving him a free card if he fails to bet and checks.
You should reserve this play for only the stronger hands, and never slow play if you think your opposition is on a draw, which would allow him to catch up and beat you.
Slow playing is useful against a tight opponent, where by you give him a free card hoping he might catch up a little thus encouraging him to bet.
Use the check raise in the following situations:
- The texture of the flop makes your opponent suspicious of the hand you hold, and it is almost certain he would fold if you bet.
- Up against a Rock who is doesn’t bet much.
- There are no draws on the board, which could beat your hand.
- You are playing a Maniac who usually bets if you check and often bluffs.
| Texas Holdem Betting Strategies | ||
| Feeler Bet | Continuation Bet | Stealing the Blinds |
| All In Bet | Bluffing at Texas Hold'em Poker | |
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