Slowplay
Playing a strong hand passively (checking or just calling) to disguise its strength and trap opponents.
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What Is Slowplay?
Slowplaying sacrifices immediate value in order to induce bets or bluffs from opponents on later streets. It works best on dry, less-threatening boards where there's little risk of opponents catching up to a hand that could outdraw you.
Examples
Checking flopped quads to let an opponent bluff into you.
Calling instead of raising with a flopped set to keep a bluffer in the hand.
Strategy Tips
Only slowplay on boards with few draws, since giving free or cheap cards on a wet board risks being outdrawn. Consider your opponent's tendencies -- slowplaying is most effective against aggressive players likely to bet into you, and less useful against passive opponents who rarely bet without a strong hand themselves. Have a plan for later streets before you decide to slowplay, since checking the flop can complicate pot building on the turn and river. Overusing slowplay makes your checks with strong hands predictable, so balance it with normal value betting.