What is meant by the term 'slowroll'? If you slowroll someone, then this means that you take an incredibly long period of time (usually the full amount that you are allowed to take) to call when your opponent is already all-in, you have the stone cold nuts and there is nobody let to act. A slow roll occurs at showdown when a player with an extremely strong hand, often the nuts, faces river bet and then delays calling or turning over his cards. This is usually done to give an opponent false hope that he holds the winning hand. Slow rolling is a serious breach of poker etiquette.

Slowroll - To wait until the last possible moment to show the winning hand, in an effort to get your opponent to believe he has won the pot when he has not.
When a poker hand is over, there is a specific order in which the hands are supposed to be turned over. The last person to initiate a bet or raise on the last round of betting, is supposed to turn their hand over first. This gives the players who have called the opportunity to see the called hand before having to show themselves. After the player who initiated last action shows, hands are supposed to be shown down in a clockwise order, starting with the first player on his left. In most poker rooms, if there is no river bet, hands are to be shown down in a clockwise order, starting with the small blind position. Some house rules require that the last person to initiate action turn their hand over first, regardless if there was a bet on the final betting round. This requires the dealer to remember who the last person to initiate action was, and request that they be first to turn over their hand.
While this order of operations at showdown exists, it is not always adhered to completely. It is only strictly adhered to if there is a dispute between players over who must show down first. This type of dispute does not arise very often, because players are generally eager to show their hands if they think they may have won the pot. It is customary for the first step in the order of operations be adhered to, which is that the last person to initiate action to turn their hand over first. This player will usually do this without being prompted, but sometimes they will hesitate. If they hold a busted draw, a bluff, or other hand they believe cannot win with, they may not turn their hand over immediately, and may even muck rather than show. If they hold back their hand, it is usually because they are hoping that the winner will take the opportunity to show, so they can muck their hand without showing. In any event, if the last person to initiate action hesitates when it is time for them to show, it usually indicates that they have a weak hand.
If someone has a strong hand at showdown, they are usually eager to turn it over and collect the pot. This means that when a player shows down a hand, they expect to find out relatively quickly if they are beat. They expect that anyone able to beat the hand they have shown will turn it over quickly in an attempt to claim the pot. If no one does, they will justifiably believe that they have won the pot. This can open the door to mischief. In an attempt to get under the skin of their opponents, a player may wait to show the winning hand until after their opponent has shown, and a long enough period of time passes without a better hand being exposed, that their opponent expects to win the pot. Then, just as their opponent is about to rake in the pot, they show them the winner. This is called a slow roll, and it is considered an extremely rude thing to do. It bothers some players a lot, which is precisely the goal of the player who slowrolls. Slowrolling is often a response to, or a trigger for, all out psychological war between players.

Poker Term Slow Rolls

Despite the discourteous nature of slowrolling, it is not generally prohibited by house rules. If it is prohibited, there is rarely a penalty associated with it. At most, it may elicit censure from the dealer or floor staff. Stronger penalties are not deemed appropriate. One reason for this is that it is hard to objectively evaluate the severity and intentionality of a slowroll. Players are expected to show down within a reasonable timeframe once the hand is over, but what constitutes reasonable time? A slowroll is kind of like pornography, it’s difficult to define specifically, but you know it when you see it.
Slowroll is not the same as slow play. Please see link below.
Usage: Slowrolled, Slowrolling, He Slowrolled Me
Previous Poker Term: Slow Play
Next Poker Term: Small Blind

Slow Roll Poker – Have You Heard of it?

You may have heard this phrase at your local casino or your friend mentioning it. It’s an old poker move that is hated more than the dreaded check raise, but with good reason. A slow roll in poker is an incredibly unethical and distasteful move to employ. It is when a player has the best hand and takes an inordinate amount of time to call and show the winning hand. It is one of the most disliked moves in poker.

Why Would Anyone Slow Roll?

A player will typically slow roll his opponent with the intention to frustrate his opponent and possibly get them on tilt. But at what cost? You have lost that opponent’s respect and the other players at the table too.

A player may also just be a mean spirited individual and just do it for his own amusement. Whatever the reason, it’s very uncool and won’t win you any favours with your fellow poker players. Texas Hold’em Questions is opposed to slow rolls and something we ask our students not to do.

Casino Slow Rolls

Free Poker Roll

A slow roll is quite easy to detect in live play at the casino. The way your opponent reveals the cards and their facial expression are usually a dead giveaway as to whether they are intentionally slow rolling you.

It’s important to note the player in the hand as you need to be careful not to misinterpret the behaviour of a beginner player or a forgetful elderly individual. They may just be slow or not realise the strength of their hand. A beginner may not know he has the nut flush and think he’s playing a one pair hand when he slowly calls on the river. If he has the nuts and isn’t re raising you, it’s a pretty clear indication he isn’t slow rolling intentionally as a good player will always try to get more chips in the pot if at all possible.

Slowrolling Online

It is harder to detect a slow roll online. A delayed call could just mean a poor internet connection. The player might be answering the door or in a key hand on another table so don’t just to judgement. Be careful before you curse your opponent online.

Poker Term Slow Roll

On the other hand, if the player slow rolls and does a winky face in the chat, you know you’ve just been slow rolled. It might be worth taking a note of that player. Lets face it, the kind of player to slow roll is the same type of player to make irrational bluffs and show you after. There is strategic value to knowing who the slow rollers are.
Next time you play, make sure you don’t slow roll! You’ll find yourself with a big target on your back and lose a lot of respect too.

Poker Slow Roll Definition

Check out the hand below where Sheik slow rolls Gus Hansen, uncool.