# Slow Play

> Source: [Slow Play in the Smarter.Poker Glossary](https://smarter.poker/glossary/slow-play)

## Definition
Slow Playing Means Checking Or Calling With A Very Strong Hand Instead Of Betting Or Raising, So The Opponent Stays In And Keeps Betting. It Works Best On Dry Boards Where Few Cards Can Hurt You And The Opponent Is Likely To Bluff. On Wet Boards And In Multiway Pots It Risks Giving Free Cards That Beat You.

- **Category**: Postflop
- **Term Code**: `slow-play`
- **DefinedTermSet**: [Smarter.Poker Poker Glossary](https://smarter.poker/glossary)

## Related Poker Terms

- [Trap](https://smarter.poker/glossary/trap) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/trap.md)): A Trap Is A Line Designed To Induce Bets From An Opponent While Holding A Monster Hand, Usually By Check Calling Or Check Raising Rather Than Leading. It Differs From A Plain Slow Play In Its Aim: The Trapper Wants The Opponent To Bluff Or Bet Worse Hands Into Them, Then Collects The Extra Chips On A Later Street.
- [Value Bet](https://smarter.poker/glossary/value-bet) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/value-bet.md)): A Value Bet Is A Bet Made Because Worse Hands Will Call It Often Enough To Show A Profit. The Test Is Simple: If The Opponent Calls, Are You Ahead Of Most Of The Hands They Call With? Value Bets Pay For Bluffs In A Balanced Strategy, And Missing Them Costs More Money Than Most Players Realize.
- [Board Texture](https://smarter.poker/glossary/board-texture) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/board-texture.md)): Board Texture Describes How The Community Cards Interact. A Dry Board Such As K72 With Three Suits Offers Few Draws, A Wet Board Is Full Of Straight And Flush Possibilities, And A Monotone Board Shows Three Cards Of One Suit. Texture Decides Which Range It Favors, Which Is Why Bet Sizes And Frequencies Change From Flop To Flop.
- [Wet Board](https://smarter.poker/glossary/wet-board) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/wet-board.md)): A Wet Board Is A Flop Or Turn With Many Straight And Flush Possibilities, Such As J T 9 With Two Hearts. Equities Run Closer On Wet Boards, So Strong Hands Bet Larger To Charge Draws, And Ranges Change Sharply From Street To Street. The Opposite Is A Dry Board, Where Few Draws Exist And Small Bets Are Common.

## Practice On Smarter.Poker

- [GTO Training](https://smarter.poker/hub/training): Scenario Based Poker Training, Free To Play.
- [Jarvis And PokerBrain AI Coach](https://smarter.poker/features/poker-ai-coach): Street-By-Street Postflop Hand Analysis And Leak Detection.

## Compliance & Fair Play

There Is No Real-Money Gambling On Smarter.Poker: Club Chips Are Play Credits With No Cash Value, And Diamonds Are A Promotional Rewards Currency.