What Is Slow Rolling in Poker?

Poker is much more than simply a game of cards. In order to rise to the top, players need to utilise skilled gameplay as well as all sorts of psychological tricks. That's why you'll see things such as hand lying, needling, and trash-talking other players. This behaviour may be slightly unsocial, but it’s perfectly acceptable. Yet even for the most competitive of poker players, there are some lines that should never be crossed.

An Unforgivable Taboo

 

One of the biggest taboos in poker is what's known as slow rolling. So frowned upon is this practice that, even if you were to do it accidentally, you would be immediately ostracised by the other players at your table. It may even escalate into physical violence. So you're probably wondering, what on earth is slow rolling and why is it offensive to the extent, that even if performed by accident, would cause such a violent reaction?

 

Simply put, slow rolling is a form of trolling. It's when a player who has a very strong hand takes their time in turning over the cards or calling. Essentially, they are giving their opponent a false sense of hope, when in fact, they themselves hold the winning hand. When it comes to bad poker etiquette, slow rolling is probably at the top of the list.

 

Let's have a look at some examples in which a player holding a strong hand can slow roll his opponent:

 

  • Quickly calling but then taking an age to turn over the winning cards.
  • Pretending to admit defeat after the bet, before then going on to turn over a winning hand.
  • After facing an all-in or big bet, you pause on the river.

 

Why do Players Frown Upon Slow Rolling?

 

The reason why slow rolling is so despised is that you are playing a trick on a player at the exact moment they take a big loss at the poker table. It's like kicking someone when they're already down. You’re adding emotional distress to what must be a highly frustrating moment. In the game of poker, hope springs eternal. To build up someone's optimism and make them feel that a win is just around the corner, only to brutally smash them with a sick joke, is seen as not just and gentlemanly, but also cruel.

 

There are slightly more subtle ways in which a slow roller can troll his opponents. These include:

 

  • Saying anything to give the opponent a reason to think they may have won.
  • Pretending to be disappointed and despondent before delaying and then revealing your winning hand.
  • Hold the cards as if you're ready to discard them before suddenly turning them over.

 

Is Slow Rolling Against the Rules?

 

If you're feeling antisocial and attempt to slow roll, then you should be aware that you're allowed to do so. There are no rules in poker that state you can't take your time when it comes to turning over your cards if you have a strong hand. However, casinos tend to take a different view on this behaviour. It's quite possible to be banned from the casino. Furthermore, in many cases, you should expect a physical fistfight in the parking lot when you leave.

 

In many ways, there's no reason why slow rolling shouldn't be grouped together with the many other psychological tricks that poker players use against each other. Yet slow rolling stands alone as a more heinous crime because of the deliberate cruelty involved in leading on other players, only to emotionally destroy them moments later. To be truthful, your time would be better spent concentrating on how to beat your opponents by playing fairly. After all, what's the point of making a lifelong enemy or being banned from a casino for something that appears to be relatively frivolous?

 

How to Deal with Being Slow Rolled?

 

If you happen to find yourself on the receiving end of a slow roll, we suggest you simply take the high road and ignore it. You know that the whole idea of slow rolling is to put you off your game. We suggest you simply say something like “nice hand” and move on to the next round. One thing we do not condone is taking revenge when you have a strong hand. Starting petty wars at the poker table benefits no one in the long run.

 

What If Someone Else Gets Slow Rolled at Your Table?

 

Though this may sound like heartless advice, every player sitting at the poker table needs to concentrate on their game and mind their own business. If you witness someone at your table being slow rolled, we suggest you don't get involved. For all you know they could have a history of beef and actually enjoy slow rolling each other. One of the tenets of being a good poker player is emotional control. To that end, you will never find another poker player who is going to soft-play you and you should never do the same. By nature, poker is an extremely competitive activity and there's no room for nice guys. With so many different types of personality at any poker game, you need to be by the baddest of the bad.

 

Can You Slow Roll Before the River?

 

If you're the type of player who likes to take your time, there's nothing wrong with this during the gameplay. This type of slow playing is known as “Hollywooding”, and it doesn't matter if you have a strong hand, providing it's not at the river. Part and parcel of the gameplay is allowing players to feign weakness. Likewise, if you feign strength. This is not considered bad etiquette but rather the makings of a good poker player.

 

Slow Rolling Poker Etiquette

 

If you're new to playing poker, then the last thing you want to do is accidentally slow roll someone. To that end, you should develop a habit of flipping your cards instantly whenever you make a call. Keep in mind that even if you have a hand less than the nuts, it's possible that other players may feel you’re slow rolling. By instantly flipping your cards over, it will also help speed up the game.

 

When is it Okay to Slow Roll?

 

On the whole, we recommend that you stay away from slow rolling anyone, at any time. However, there may be some rare occasions when it's considered OK to slow roll. Below we've listed some examples:

 

  • You're playing among friends, and have a tradition of slow rolling for a laugh.
  • You are playing against someone who recently slow rolled either yourself or another player.
  • A player is being a jerk at the table by being abusive to you or other players.
  • You are pretending to play like a newbie and using the slow roll to help perpetuate your image.

 

Slow Rolling Online

 

Unsurprisingly, many poker players ask the question of whether you can slow roll online? The answer is a definite yes!

 

If you take more than a few seconds to show your cards when you face a bet on the river, then this is considered slow rolling. Yet thanks to the prevalence of multi-tabling, you’ll find that many players are not really paying attention. As a result, the reaction to slow rolling is going to be more muted than if you're playing a land-based casino. Nevertheless, there's really no need to slow roll anyone online.

 

Because you're playing over the internet, online slow rolls are more forgivable. That's because the majority of them are not deliberate. They can be put down two multi-tabling, internet lag or some form of external distraction. That's the reason why very few players will even notice a slow roll at an online poker game.

 

Is it Really That Serious?

 

To the non-gambler, slow rolling appears to be a bit of a storm in a teacup. In fact, there's something almost comical about it. However, for many poker players, being led to believe that you have the best hand, and then losing a big pot on the river, is going to be a low blow. At the end of the day, it all comes down to respecting other players. Because slow rolling is both unnecessary and cruel, it's no surprise that it’s viewed with such hostility.

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