FAQ: Should I Slowplay?

[Cry Me A River]

The short answer is: If you have to ask this question then, "No!"

New players and bad players love to slowplay and they slowplay way, way too much. Slowplaying is a very specialized weapon that needs to be used only in specific circumstances. Otherwise you're just costing yourself money when you run out of streets and fail to extract as much as you should have. Or even worse, you let your opponents out-draw you cheaply.

When in doubt DO NOT SLOWPLAY! Betting when you have a big hand is never a bad play.

This table will determine how appropriate slowplaying is in any given spot. Just add up the score below and this will tell you if you should slowplay the flop. The higher the score, the less inclined you should be to slowplay. Situations where slowplaying the turn or river is a good idea are much more rare. You want to start getting it in there on the turn almost always. If you have any question about slowplaying the flop, you should probably never slowplay the turn and river.

Score
=======
10+ Do not slowplay ever.
5-9 Borderline. Remember to always err on the side of playing it fast but this may be a reasonable spot to slowplay.
<5 Ok, you can slowplay if you want to.


Preflop
+10 3bet
+05 You raised preflop and you usually cbet
+05 You called a raise
+02 You raised preflop and you often do not cbet
+01 Limped pot

Flop Texture
Use ALL that are applicable:
+08 There is an Ace on the flop
+05 Flop has three sequential cards (i.e.; 678)
+03 There is a King on the flop
+05 Flop has flush draw
+02 Flop has connectors (i.e.; 78)
-02 Flop is paired
-02 Flop is low (all cards < 8)
-02 Flop is monotone

Flop Action
+05 Checked to you and you are last to act
+05 Bet from a passive player
+05 Bet with call(s), +01 for every call
-02 No action yet
-02 Bet from an aggressive or TAG player
-03 Bet from an aggressive or TAG player who is in a steal position
-03 Cbet from an aggressive or TAG player
-05 Bet and reraise

Your position
+05 Last to act
+01 In the middle
-02 First to act

Protecting Your Hand
Use ALL that are applicable:
+12 You have a non-nut flush
+07 You have a straight
+07 You have the nut flush
You have 2pair, set or straight and:
+15 Flop is monotone
+15 Flop has three sequential cards (i.e.; 678)
+10 Flop has flush draw
+05 Flop has connectors (i.e.; 78)
+02 Flop has gap connectors (i.e.; 68)

Players In The Hand
+10 Three or more other players in the hand
+02 Two other players in the hand
-02 Head's up

Effective Stack Sizes
+05 Deep stacked
-05 Short stacked

Villains
Score for every villain in hand:
+05 Calling Station (loose/passive)
+03 Loose/Aggressive
+01 Tight/Aggressive
-01 Tight/Passive
-02 Nitty
-10 Will call with a wide range of hands if you push river and you are going to push river

Your Image
+05 Loose/Aggressive
+03 Tight/Aggressive
-02 Tight/Passive
-02 Nitty
-05 Calling Station (loose/passive)