In the coming months we will broach the topic of etiquette at the poker table as we examine a range of situations and why they are or are not acceptable. These cover everything from splashing the pot, excessively talking while another player ponders a decision and the way you address the dealer.
But when it comes to etiquette, there is no greater faux pas at the poker table than the dreaded slow roll. What is a slow roll? This is when a hand is essentially over, and a player knows he has definitely or almost certainly won the hand, yet still takes an unnecessarily long period of time in completing his action. The traditional meaning of slow rolling was taking an inordinately long period of time at showdown to expose your hole cards (or “roll” your hand over), when you know it is a winner. For example you might be the last to show your cards and you know you have the winning hand, or you might be first to show but you have the nuts or very close to it. In recent times the meaning of slow rolling has expanded to include when a player takes a ridiculously long time to make his decision when there is a very obvious call because that player has either an unbeatable or extremely strong hand. The evilness of the slow roll is compounded when an opponent has shoved into the slow roller!
An obvious situation would be midway through a tournament when the small blind shoves over the top of the big blind and after taking 30 seconds to make a decision the big blind turns over A-A. Outrageous!
I must say, I can appreciate a few rare opportunities when the slow roll might prove useful – namely if your opponent had done it to you before or has been blatantly rude to you throughout the day’s play. In this scenario, there could be no better way to gain revenge than to eliminate your opponent by slow-rolling them. Arguably, slow rolling might also be a useful tool to needle an opponent, hoping to throw them off their game.
But for the most part, slow rolling is rude and unnecessary. There is no need to treat your opponents at the table with contempt. Deliberately misrepresenting your hand is only one step down the rung from cheating – it is the height of arrogance and a sad indictment on those who choose to do so.
And let’s not forget, slow-rolling doesn’t just affect the other player in the hand. Everyone at the table suffers while you put on a show in a hand where you already know the outcome. Don’t fall into this trap.
There are always going to be players around who are rude and disrespectful for no other reason than some inner need to feel superior but that doesn’t mean you have to do so as well. As I like to say, play mean but keep it clean!
