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Sandbagging in Poker

Most poker players are familiar with the concept of bluffing. When a poker player makes a bluff, he is actually making a bet or a raise, giving an impression that he is holding strong cards. But in reality, his cards are actually weaker. But the purpose of the bluff is to make the opponents fold so that the only remaining player in the betting round is the player who made the bluff. Bluffing takes a lot of experience and skill. But there is another poker technique which is similar to bluffing that demands the same level of skills and experience. This poker technique is called sandbagging or slow play.

In sandbagging, the poker player acts as if he has weaker cards, when in fact, he is holding strong cards. Doing this deceptive play is the exact opposite of bluffing, and it contradicts the usual advice of many poker experts, that is, when the poker player has a strong hand, he must bet and raise aggressively. But sandbagging has its own unique purposes. There are situations at the poker table in which the poker player may need to conduct sandbagging.

For example, the poker player may realize that each time he bets or makes a raise, almost everyone else on the poker table folds. In such a situation, the pot size no longer increases and his winnings are less significant that they would have been if one of the opponents gave a chase. Thus, instead of making a raise or betting, the poker player may just check (if allowed in the poker variant) or call. In this manner, he wouldn't make his poker opponents nervous and these opponents will sweeten the pot with their own calls and bets.

In the situation described above, the poker player who conducts sandbagging must first establish that he is tight-aggressive player. That is, the poker player must quickly form a reputation that he folds whenever his cards are weak and he bets and raises whenever he forms a strong hand. Without this reputation, his poker opponents won't be affected by his sandbagging. And the technique of sandbagging may only lessen the potential size of the pot. That is, if he had raised, instead of called, one of the poker opponents would have call the raise.

In the last round of betting, sandbagging can be a great poker technique if the poker player is at the early position. That is, after this poker player has acted, there are more poker players who must act after him. If this poker player bets or raises, the poker opponents after him will most likely fold. But if he will just check or call, the poker opponents after him will also call. This call is called an "overcall".