Free Online Poker Secrets Of Beating Slow Play Traps
In this free online poker strategy example we’re looking at the situation and options open to players in head to head play where both believe they have the best hand and both elect to slow play. This could be called Trap vs Trap.
A good way to look at it is by way of example. For the example we’ll use a truly critical hand example, a WSOP final table head to head.
The Set Up:
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 complete table.
B could have reraised A, but A might fold. B may be worried provided that the Flop came up paired like J-J-7, but B thinks that a continuation test bet will detect if A has a hand after the Flop.
Reraising preflop which test bet has got the same effect of making A fold if A doesn’t have 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 a better hand!
B checks, again to hide hand strength.
A bets to build the pot, then B raises.
A may interpret B’s raise as being a bluff because he might think B is drawing (note the two Clubs) or that B may 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 large 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 thus far.
Now B may have decided that A is still on the Flush draw with perhaps a small Pair, say Ac-3c.
Moreover, because preflop A obscured his hand strength well (just smooth-calling), B can imagine that A also has a King, however with a weaker kicker.
Now he believes that A is getting ready to call anything he hauls in the middle, 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 approx. 14 million)
Both think their traps are working! In poker, the higher the hands, the higher the chips in front.
Both did well in protecting the balance building the pot and concealing hand strength, but only one hand can win.
A can only win with a river King or Ten.
RIVER: Kc-5c-3h-6s-10c (!)
A wins! But had A continued trapping through to 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 hoard each other’s chips once the chance appears.
Trap versus Trap A Conclusion
Take the time to read and thoroughly grasp the principles behind this article. Try and thoroughly grasp the concepts behind what is going on with this example and look into ways to put these lessons into your own 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 play poker well then you will make some great money. Why?
It’s because 80% or more players won’t ever make this sort of play level.
So you, if you can get to a good standard will do very well very easily. You don’t have to be a TV pro to make good money in poker!
The fact that most players are at such a low quality ensures that when you hunt/play them on free online poker or low stakes sites you’ll be able to clean up.
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