When you have a monster hand, the options available to you may seem endless. Should you make a bet in hopes that your opponents will call? Should you check in hopes that someone else will bet and you can the raise? Should you check with plans of slow-playing your hand by simply calling a bet if someone else takes a stab at the pot. Many players fall in love with a powerful hand and immediately go into slow-play mode. Often times, this allows their opponents to chase with weaker holdings only to make a better hand by the river. Then the "bad beat" whining begins when the truth is that the hand was really misplayed.

Slow-playing undoubtedly has its place in poker, and it is no where more powerful than in no-limit Texas Holdem. In limit holdem, or other structured games, players have limited opportunities to get their money into the pot and must take advantage on almost all occasions. In no-limit holdem, slow-playing gives your opponents the chance to make a mistake that could cost them their entire stack.

So the question is when to slow-play. One of the most commonly seen slow-playing hands is with high pairs such as Aces or Kings. Players will limp into the hand preflop to disguise the strength of their pocket pair, only to be followed by 4 or 5 other players. Although high pocket pairs are a great starting hand against 1 or 2 other players, slow-playing them preflop will often have detrimental consequences. The only time to slow-play a big pocket pair preflop is when you are certain an aggressive player will make a raise giving you a chance to reraise. If the aggressive player doesn't raise as expected, you must realize that you only have one pair after the flop if your hand doesn't improve. And, in a multi-way hand, one pair is often not a strong enough to win the pot.

Even if you flop top two pair or a set, slow-playing may not be the best play. When you are against multiple players and the board is offering straight or flush draw possibilities, you can't afford to allow your opponents to chase their hands for free. In this situation, you need to bet to protect your hand and make it both expensive and mathematically incorrect for drawing players to call.

Now lets say you flop a hand like a set, a straight, or top two pair against only 1 or 2 players. When the board is not offering anything for drawing hands, you may choose to check in an attempt to disguise your hand. If another player bets, you can smooth call and wait for a later street to make your move. Or, you can raise him and try to take the pot right there.

Finally, if you are fortunate enough to flop a full house or better, you should pretty much always slow-play. When you have a hand this powerful, there are few cards your opponents can be holding that will allow them to call your bet. Check and let your opponents see another card for free in hopes that their hand will improve.

Slow-playing is a fantastic tool to have in your holdem arsenal. Learn to use it properly and your bankroll will reap the benefits.