[Shillx]

I wish posters here would be more consistent with their slowplaying advice, though. Why doesn't it matter in this case? Are there clear-cut guidelines as to when I should wait or not?

Most poker isn't this clear cut. There are multiple ways to play certain situations, and all can be correct or at least almost correct. Here are some things to think about.

- If you have a board like 9 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 6 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 3 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], you should be much more inclined to jam the flop with good hands.

- If the flop is A [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 7 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], you would be better off waiting to raise the river with strong hands (AK type hands, not top set). The exception would be if he is a LAG/maniac.

Why?

1) If the flop is 9c6s3c and it goes bet-call, there are going to be a lot of scary cards that might slow the villian down on 4th. There aren't any scary turn cards when the flop is A72r, so you can expect him to bet the turn a higher % of the time.

2) It is far more likely that the villian is on a straight bluff when the board is A72. Give him a chance to throw some $$$ away. He will be on a semi-bluff type hand on a 963 board so getting a raise in on the river does no good. Likewise you lose less by waiting with your AK when the villain flopped a set or 2-pair in the A72 hand.

3) It makes sense to play a board like the one in your hand fast with K9 since you are going to playing a lot of draws fast (and sets). The only hands you will be playing fast in the other hand are AA and 77 and A7. So just because you are willing to put a lot of bets in doesn't mean that you have a good made hand. He might be willing to put more bets in thinking that you just have a draw, yet when you have a draw you give up very little in terms of equity, so it is a win-win for you. Either he pays off your TPTK/overpair hands or he folds winners or stuff with decent equity when you are jamming something like AQ [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].