It’s a really common question asked by online poker players: when should they slow play and what, exactly, does slow playing entail? Let’s actually handle the latter first: slow playing is the opposite of bluffing. When you slow play, you’re betting weakly or passively while holding strong cards. The reason one slow plays is to draw in opponents into a pot that might fold to a raise and they might well bet strongly, thinking that they’ve got you in a bind. When you slow play, you lose any protection you might have against hands that can improve and a check can throw off your strategy entirely, but many players find it an effective way to grow a pot that they can then collect with minimal effort.

When should you slow play? Sklansky states that you have to have an extremely powerful hand: starting off with pocket rockets and then hitting something very nice on the fold. You should also be wary of handing your opponents profitable cards and giving them the shot of overtaking you. Slow play involves the tightest possible play for players and patience: the pot can not be too large or you’ll frighten off other players, but large enough to keep them invested in what’s going on.

Don’t outsmart yourself: the point of playing poker is to win money from other players and you’re trying to bleed people of more money before taking it all. Make sure you keep an eye on possible draws that could trump you: AA doesn’t beat a weak straight flush, no matter how much you may want it to. If you’re just giving away cards for cheap, then you’re not going to walk away with cash in your pocket and you’re actually going to lose some of your reputation at the tables for it, especially if you’re playing in a spot that you frequent and player notes are available.

Slow play is not something that you should employ too often; if others pick up on your play style, then your bluffs are going to be ignored because they are expecting you to slow play strong hands instead of working them properly. Be aware that others can employ the same strategy against you and know when you’re likely to be overdrawing to keep yourself from falling victim to someone else who’s being stealthy at the tables.