Besides the dealing of the pocket cards, and your decision to fold or hold them at the Flop is probably the most important moment in Texas Holdem. Three cards hit the board, often making “nut” hands out of weak pocket cards and at times, making strong pocket cards useless. Your ability to read the flop will be a huge factor in your success in Texas Holdem.
Flopping 3 of a Kind (A set or trips)
First, flopping a set would be where you hold a strong pair, such as KK, and the river comes K-A-4. Your monster 3 Kings are hidden, and anyone with an Ace is probably going to be putting in a raise as they have top pair on the flop. Now the winning potential for this hand is good and to maximize its potential you should slow play it by only flat calling.
A similar situation we will call flopping trips. This would be a situation where you hold only one of the 3 cards as your pocket card. Say you hold AK suited, and the flop comes K-K-Q. Here again, you have 3 of a kind, but even so, we have to understand that this is a bit of a weaker hand. Anytime a pair is showing on board, there is danger of a full house already formed. QQ would definitely be a hand that someone would hold onto, and given this flop, your 3 Kings are losers.
It is also harder to maximize a pot with the trips on the flop. Those are huge hands, and if you go firing at the pot with a big raise you may get nothing more than what is already their. Once again, if you have the full house your best bet is slow play by place a small bet, call a small bet or even just check. This will allow other in the pot to catch up and hopefully maximize your winnings.
There are however, certain times you want to firer at the pot with 3 of a kind and fire with a big bet. The time you want to do this is where the flop gives chances for a straight draw, like K-K-10, anyone holding Q-J has a good chance at hitting a straight, or if 2 of the cards are the same suit giving someone a chance at a flush. Then you want to make them pay to see the next card instead of allowing them a cheap shot at a flush or straight draw.
Flopping a small Pair
Let us say you are holding A-8 of hearts and the flop comes out K-8-2. You have missed your flush draw, because only the 2 is clubs, but you have flopped a pair of 8’s. You have to consider the fact that someone may have a king and have you beat. Therefore, if the action were checked to you, I would be putting in a bet here.
By putting in the feeler bet, you are finding out the true strength of your pair. If anyone holds a king, you can expect a raise. If you have the best hand, expect calls or the others to fold. If you are raised, then you must consider the person who has raised you. Is he a rock, fish or a maniac? If he is a rock then it is time to fold as he probably has you bet by holding the king. If he is the maniac then you have to use your best judgment as these jokers can be playing with anything. If it is, the fish then I probably going to re-raising him, as he will be draw on a hand.
Flopping a Monster Hand
Any of the following would be classed as a monster hand, 4 of a kind, full house, flush, nut flush, straight, straight flush. Basically, the hand is yours, and I would usually slow play it. You want the other players to stay in and build a decent hand that they will play to the river.
Note - In the case of flushes and straights, make sure you are not caught with the low end of a straight or a low card flush. If you are playing good quality pocket cards though this should rarely happen. If your flush is only a 10 high bet aggressively and try to force out anyone holding a jack, queen, king or ace of your suit that way you're making them pay for a chance to get their card.
As a general rule slow play the monsters hands and wait till the more expensive turn and river cards can be a good move to begin extracting more chips from your opponents. Just watch that slow playing your hand does not give you opponents the chance to catch a better monster hand.
Ugly Flops
If you are holding onto a marginal type hand, and the flop is no help at all, then plan on checking and folding. Taking bad hands to the river will take a major toll on your bankroll.
Back
Pocket Card Selections
The Flop
The Turn
The River
Tournament Guide
Sit & Go Tournaments
Ring Games
|
Profit at poker has arranged a special deal with the good fellows at Titan poker. For a limited time, Titian poker will give all new players a free pot odds calculator (worth over $150) plus a 100% match bonus. To receive your free calculator and bonus you will have use the special bonus code PROFIT. On completion of your first real money deposit you will be eligible to download the free calculator. Please not: you must use the bonus code PROFIT to receive you free calculator and bonus. Don’t delay this is limited time offer!!! Click here to start the download.
