Sluggish wager on can be a term used in poker – specifically Texas Holdem – for trying to lure your competitors into making a large wager so that you can trap them and take down a big pot.
It really is usually used having a really very good pre-flop palm such as pocket Aces on Kings. Rather than wagering massive, the slow player will sit back and limp in (call or check) as if he does not have a palm worth wagering, 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 players down by means of the ages, but it has lost it’s effectiveness. The basic reason for this is that everybody is now sluggish betting their huge hands so it really is virtually expected.
So how do you use this scenario to your advantage?
In the event you catch an enormous palm, you have to come out wagering. Rather than trying to tempt your opponents into producing a move so which you can come in more than the top, produce the bet yourself. Now most amateur players baulk in the thought of this in case the rest of the table folds and they "waste" their huge palm, except in reality you will usually always acquire several betting action from somebody.
By betting your large palm in place of gradual betting it, you might be performing a double bluff since most men and women would sluggish play it. Your competitors will often assume you might be bluffing and you’ll acquire several betting action and ultimately win a lot more money.
The other reason you must wager is that in case you do not wager, that you are allowing your competitors a absolutely free look at the cards and each time a card is turned over they could be converting a losing hands to a winning one.
There’s only one circumstance where it will often pay to gradual play your hand – when you flop an absolute monster that nearly can not be beaten. For instance say you happen to be dealt Ace, Four of clubs and the flop is Queen, 10, 9 of clubs. You have just flopped the nut flush and you’re pretty much unbeatable. OK somebody could have a pair of Queens, 10s or Nines and catch a fourth on the turn or river, or they could be holding the King of clubs and catch the Jack for a straight flush, but the chances of you not winning are now remote.
This is the time to sluggish bet on your hand. You can find all sorts of hands that any individual else may well be holding to produce them think they are in a good position here; two other clubs, a straight draw, triples and even just a Queen for the top pair, whatever they have got the chances are somebody will consider it is worth betting. If the flop or river produces a King, Queen Jack, 10 or Nine you may well acquire a big raise and even an all-in from somebody.
Now you let them construct the pot up by just calling the bets and take down the pot with your nut flush.