The flop is a defining moment in Hold ‘em – you will now see 70% of the cards and the strength of your hand may change drastically. Whatever you held before the flop you now have to re-evaluate to decide the correct course of action:

• Top pair. The strength of this hand depends not only on the value of thepair made, but also your kicker. For instance AQ and a queen hits, this is a good hand. Bet out or raise any bets, to get both value from your hand and to protect yourself from any players with drawing hands.
• Middle pair. A tricky hand to play, a bet may be in order if you think you can win there and then, else look to fold to a bet.
• Bottom pair. In limit games these are often hands to run away from, especially at the low limits there will be too many players in the pot for you to have the best hand, and if you do someone is sure to stick around and catch a better pair later.
• Overpair. When you have a pair in your hand of a higher value than any cards on the table you can extract quite a bit of cash, but still be careful. If your opponent gets top pair, ace kicker you can bet and raise getting paid off quite well, but be wary of two pair, or sets.
• Two pairs. A good hand if using both your hole cards, as it can be difficult for your opponents to put you on this hand. Bet and raise to try and get drawing hands to fold whilst getting value from players with pairs. If there is a pair on board with a pair in your hand it’s not so good - watch out for players with a set.
• Set. Three of a kind with a pocket pair and one of the cards on the board. A great hand which should be bet and raised with unless the table is too tight and you think you may get more on the turn.
• Three of a kind with a pair on the board. Not such a good hand, be wary of other players with better kickers or possibly a full house. If you think it is safe then bet to drive out others hanging around on a draw.
• Straight. A great hand, made better if you hold two cards which make the top end of it. Whatever part of it you hold you should still be looking to make money on this hand, just be careful of others with either a better straight at this time, or making a better one later on.
• Flush. Normally a very strong hand, especially if you have the nut flush as players will stick around hoping for a fourth suited card to connect with their King or Queen – at this point you can really make some money. If your flush is vulnerable then don’t consider slow-playing, just get the money in the pot while you are ahead.
• Full House. You won’t normally flop one of these, but when you do you can often slowplay as you are only in danger from other people making either better full houses of four of a kinds.
• Drawing Hands. Drawing hands are hands that don’t currently have a chance to win, but will do if they improve, such as four to a flush or straight. In order to play them correctly you need to understand pot-odds. Drawing hands improve greatly with the more ways they can improve, and whilst mostly you will simply be calling bets, sometimes you will be making bets and raises to get money into the pot.

Tags: cards, poker, strategy

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 4:17 pm and is filed under Poker Tips. Both comments and pings are currently closed.