03
Sep
Free Online Poker Secrets Of Beating Slow Play Traps
In this free online poker tips lesson we are going to examine a situation you may find yourself in during a heads up game where you and your opponent both think you’re got the best hand and so try to slow play each other. Trap versus Trap as it’s known.
To illustrate this situation we will learn by example. For this we’ll use a WSOP final table hand, major stuff!
The Scene:
BLINDS 100k/200k, ante 30k
PREFLOP:
1) A has Ks-10s, raises to 400k
2) B has As-Ad, calls 200k
3) A’s raise is standard for K-10, which isn’t as weak in short-handed play as in a full table.
B might have reraised A, but A might fold. B might be worried providing the Flop came up paired like J-J-7, but B thinks that a continuation test bet will detect if A has a hand following the Flop.
Reraising preflop which test bet has got the same effect of making A fold if A has not got anything, but calling not only conceals A’s hand strength, but also makes it dangerous for B to bet if a King or a Ten comes.
FLOP: Kc-5c-3h
1) B checks
2) A bets 525k
3) B raises to 1.45m
4) A calls 875k (Pot now 3.76m)
Now A suddenly had top pair which he might think is the better hand!
B checks, again to hide hand strength.
A bets to build the pot, then B raises.
A may interpret B’s raise to be a bluff because he might think B is drawing (note the 2 Clubs) or that B could have a smaller pair, say, A-5 or A-3.
A just calls because he is now the one aiming to trap.
TURN: Kc-5c-3h-6s
1) B bets 1.5m
2) The three-Flush didn’t come. B’s bet will now be challenging A.
If A folds, B still wins a major pot. If A calls or reraises, B can push him all-in if action gets back to B.
A’s trap seems to be working so far.
Now B could have decided that A is still on the Flush draw with maybe a small Pair, say Ac-3c.
Additionally, because preflop A concealed his hand strength well (just smooth-calling), B can believe that A also has a King, however with a weaker kicker.
Now he believes that A is ready to call anything he hauls in the centre, and he also thinks his trap is working. So what does he do?
1) A moves all-in
2) B calls 3.6m (Pot now about 14 million)
Both think their traps are winning! In poker, the bigger the hands, the bigger the chips in front.
Both did well in keeping the balance building the pot and concealing hand strength, but only one hand can win.
A is only able to win with a river King or Ten.
RIVER: Kc-5c-3h-6s-10c (!)
A wins! But had A carried on trapping until the river with this river card, it’s still the same. Both still have big hands, both are prepared to trap, and both are prepared to jealously guard each other’s chips when the opportunity arises.
Trap versus Trap A Conclusion
Take time to read and appreciate the principles behind this article. Look to appreciate the key points behind what’s going on with this example and think about ways to put these lessons into your personal play.
While poker is not a hard game to learn it is a very hard game to win money at regularly if you are playing seriously.
But if (and when) you learn to really play online poker well then you will make some good money. Why?
Because most players never get close to what we can call a good standard of play.
So if you can learn to play above average then it is not hard to make some good money. You certainly don’t need to play WSOP levels.
The fact that most players are at such a low proficiency ensures that when you hunt/play them on free online poker or low stakes sites then you can clean up.
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