Poker Strategy - Detecting and Setting Traps
By Rick Braddy

So, instead of betting it big, I might throw out a smaller bet or even check it (slowplay). Another player holding big slick (A-K) pairs up with an Ace on the flop, thinking he's got the best hand so far. Another player has a small pair (e.g., 4's) and picks up a set on the flop (assuming flop was something like 4-A-J).

Now, had I bet really big or raised back too early, the player holding the Ace would realize he's trouble and the small pair would've likely folded pre-flop. Since I just checked it down, no reason to be afraid of me, since I'm obviously on some kind of a draw...
The person with the three of a kind (the 4's) tosses out a bet of 4 times the blind. The guy with Aces calls it. After delaying slightly, I go ahead and also call it (why not, I'm getting decent enough pot odds).

So, I'm trapping them both at this point, letting them bet into me and just calling their bets. The same thing happens again on the turn, except the player with Aces drops out.

Now it's just me and the set of 4's. They bet big again, this time the size of the pot. Again, after a slight pause, I just call them "reluctantly". Then comes the river, and they go all-in.
I immediately call them...oops! They're sunk! What happened here?

These players never asked themselves two simple questions:

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