Definition of Sandbagging
What does sandbagging mean in poker? What is the definition of sandbagging in the game of poker?
Sandbagging, also know as slow playing, occurs when a player attempts to make it look like his or her cards are weak when they're actually strong. The player does this by either checking or making a small bet in the open, which indicates a weak hand, or smooth calling a raise, which indicates a hand that's possibly weaker than the bettor's. The purpose of sandbagging is to goad opponents into betting more than they would if they believed the sandbagging player had a strong hand.

Many players sandbag by checking before and right after the flop. A popular variation of this is the check-raise, in which a player checks in the hopes that an opponent bets, then reraises any bet. However, the sandbagging technically only occurs when the player checks because the ruse ends when a reraise is posted. Sandbagging specifically refers to the act of deception in pretending a hand is weaker than it actually is. Betting aggressively ends that deception.
As with any poker tactic, sandbagging is best used judiciously. Winning a hand or two with a slow play can tempt players to use the method repeatedly, but doing so hampers its effectiveness.
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