slowplay
Hiding your strength
Slowplay is a poker strategy of underplaying a strong hand—checking or betting small to disguise its strength and lure opponents into betting more.
The term extends to any deliberate delay or understated approach meant to gain advantage: They're slowplaying the negotiations to pressure us.
The opposite of slowplay is fastplay, betting aggressively to build the pot.
Deceptive mock attack
- bluffCalculated false front
- misleadCause false belief
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
misdirection · hoodwink · bamboozle · dissemble · cunning · guile · artifice · scheming
Device for catching animals
- sandbagWeighted sack for barriers
- underplayMinimize emphasis or expression
- limpLacking firmness or rigidity
- check-raisePassive then aggressive bet
nuts · deception · disguise · concealment · rope-a-dope · baiting · luring · patience
Organized and deliberate
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
- unhurriedTaking one's time
- measuredCarefully considered, unhurried
- gradualDeveloping slowly over time
patient · calculated · restrained · controlled · pacing · timing · waiting · biding
feint
Deceptive mock attack
subterfuge · misdirection · hoodwink · bamboozle · dissemble · cunning · guile · artifice · scheming · wily
trap
Device for catching animals
- sandbagWeighted sack for barriers
- underplayMinimize emphasis or expression
- limpLacking firmness or rigidity
check-raise · nuts · deception · disguise · concealment · rope-a-dope · baiting · luring · patience · discipline
methodical
Organized and deliberate
gradual · patient · calculated · restrained · controlled · pacing · timing · waiting · biding · strategic