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When you have a big hand, and you check, call, or bet small, you are slow playing your hand. This tactic sometimes pays off big. Generally, this is a dangerous and foolish play that can cost you chips.

This isn’t to say that there aren’t times when this move can be the right play. The problems arise when you do this move at the wrong time. Let’s look at what can happen.

You’re at the beginning of a big tournament. So, the blinds are small and everyone has plenty of chips. You are dealt AA in early position. You decide to minimum raise, to hide the strength of your hand. Two players make the call. The flop comes A 10 6.

You now bet the minimum, hoping to keep someone interested. You get one call. The turn is a 9. You bet the minimum, again hoping he thinks you’re weak.

Now, you get what you think you’re looking for. He throws in a big fat raise. You call, and the river brings an innocent 2. Now, your thinking, how much can I bet and get a call. You bet that amount and hope he calls. To your surprise he goes all in.

You’re a little stunned, but obviously make the call. When he shows his 7 8, making the nut straight, you can’t believe your eyes. You flopped a set of aces and wound up losing to 7 8.

When you bet small pre flop, you let people in. When you bet small on the flop, you kept them around. When he pushes all in, you have to call, and you’re done.

Were you a victim of bad luck? Or was it bad play? I think you already know the answer.

All the bets you made were designed to keep players in the hand. By doing so you helped someone hit a long shot. When you call at the end you plan on seeing two pair, or a smaller set. But, when you think about it, these hands would be calling big bets too. You didn’t need to slow play against these hand that you’d beat.

When you lose a hand this way you should understand why it’s a bad play. You never make that many chips. Then once in a while, you bust yourself out of the tournament.

I think we all learn this lesson the hard way, by losing a few hands this way. I’m not saying never slow play, but most of the time it won’t make you more chips. In addition, sometimes you’ll get burned, bad.

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