Poker Tips: Get the Most out of Big Hands

Cash Games
December 3 2008

When you’re playing cash games you need to use every advantage given to you to keep yourself in the black. One bad hand can devour your chip stack, but remember you can also bump your chip stack up big time in one hand as well. That why it’s so important to get the most you can out of every big hand you’re dealt. You’re not going to flop a set or flop a nut flush very often, so when it comes you want to get paid as many chips as possible.

The big question when you flop that monster hand is: Do you slow-play, or do you go ahead and bet out? And by the way, in the situation we’re referring to, your hand is a monster and the board is completely with you to slow-play if it’s the right move. But when is it the right move? Well, if the board allows it the best time to slow-play is against a very aggressive opponent, especially if he is in an early position. Against a player like this all you have to do is check and let him do the betting for you. If you’re real lucky he’ll bet enough to make himself pot-committed by the turn and you can get him all-in.

You should forego the slow-play when you can bet out into a solid player that you believe also has a hand, but not a good enough one to beat you. Put in a bet that's not too small, but also not so big that it will scare him off. Knowing how much to bet will depend upon how well you know your opponent and how good you think his hand is. You’re looking to get him pot-committed eventually as well, which is the way to make the most out of the hand. If you can get him pot-committed, you’re in for a big payoff.

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