Posted by Prince | Posted in Poker | Posted on 28-01-2011
Sluggish play is often a term used in poker – particularly Texas Holdem – for trying to lure your competitors into making a large bet so that you can trap them and take down a big pot.
It can be usually used having a really excellent pre-flop hands such as pocket Aces on Kings. Rather than wagering huge, the sluggish gambler will sit back and limp in (call or check) as if he doesn’t have a palm worth betting, hoping that an opponent will have caught a lower pair or a straight draw and will come in with an enormous wager.
It is really a classic poker manouever and one which has won a lot of money for poker gamblers down through the ages, except it has lost it’s effectiveness. The simple reason for this is that everybody is now gradual betting their massive hands so it really is nearly expected.
So how do you use this predicament to your advantage?
When you catch an enormous palm, you have to come out wagering. Instead of wanting to tempt your competitors into producing a move so that you simply can come in over the top, generate the bet yourself. Now most amateur gamblers baulk in the thought of this in case the rest of the table folds and they "waste" their huge palm, except in reality you’ll typically always get several betting action from somebody.
By wagering your massive hand rather than gradual playing it, you are performing a double bluff since most men and women would gradual wager on it. Your opponents will generally assume you’re bluffing and you will get several betting action and ultimately win much more money.
The other reason you should wager is that should you do not wager, you’re allowing your opponents a absolutely free look at the cards and each time a card is turned more than they may be converting a losing palm to a succeeding one.
There’s only one predicament where it will often pay to sluggish bet on your palm – whenever you flop an absolute monster that almost can not be beaten. As an example say you might be dealt Ace, 4 of clubs and the flop is Queen, Ten, Nine of clubs. You have just flopped the nut flush and you’re pretty a lot unbeatable. OK any person could have a pair of Queens, 10s or Nines and catch a 4th on the turn or river, or they may very well be holding the King of clubs and catch the Jack for a straight flush, except the chances of you not succeeding are now remote.
This is the time to gradual bet on your hand. You can find all sorts of hands that any person else may well be holding to make them believe they are in a very good position here; 2 other clubs, a straight draw, triples and even just a Queen for the top pair, whatever they’ve got the chances are somebody will think it’s worth betting. If the flop or river produces a King, Queen Jack, 10 or Nine you may well receive an enormous raise or even an all-in from somebody.
Now you let them develop the pot up by just calling the bets and take down the pot with your nut flush.