Remember that our playing style is "
tight-agressive". So many of our decisions will be
wheter to Fold or to Raise.
So on every flop you have to do the following steps:
- Determine the type of the FLOP
- Determine your HAND STRENGTH
- Determine your Position (including the position of Preflop Raisers)
- Determine the number of players
- Determine Bets or Raises before you
- Determine your ACTION
FLOP TYPES
Here we give you an overview of the the possible Flop types you will see playing.
Always determine first the type of the Flop. The strenght of your hand depends
very much on the type of the Flop.
Example:
You have
and you called preflop in middle position with 5 players in the hand.
There were no raises.
- FLOP A =
You have flopped a set. The ace will give you good action and no straight or
flush draws are possible now
- FLOP B =
Again you have flopped a set. But now it is very likely that someone already
beats you with a flush (holding 
) or that he has a good flush draw
(holding 
)
The different types are listed in the following table:
| Type | Danger | Description | Action |
Three of a kind
( e.g. Q Q Q )
| ***** | Occur only once every 425 hands. With the Q you have the nuts. With any pocket pair you have a full house. The higher the pair the better. Sometimes Ace High is playable.
| - with the Quad you should try to slowplay and to hope that there are high pairs out
- with a high pair you should bet and raise aggressively |
High Pair
( e.g. A A 5 )
| **** | With an Ace you hold trips. But there maybe one other Ace out. One five gives you 2 pair and pocket fives give you a full house. | With a set or the full house you should bet/raise aggressive. The 2 pair is worth not much. |
Low Pair
( e.g. A 5 5 )
| *** | Less dangerous as not many players play preflop with a five.
Possible are
- a Quad (with pocket fives)
- a Full house (with pocket aces)
- trips (when someone holds a five)
| - with a Quad try slowplaying (and waiting for action by aces)
- dito for a Fullhouse
- Trips you sould play aggressive
- dito when you hold an ace (but fold when there is much resistance) |
Three-Suited
( e.g. A 9 8 )
| ***** | With this flop you need a high card of the same suit. The more players the more likely that someone already has a flush.
Top pair, Straight draws are almost not playable. Trips, Sets could improve to full house.
Three-suited Flops occur only about 5% of the time.
| - with K 7 you could try slowplay
- with K 2 pay attention for possible straight flush draws, so play aggressive
- with Pocket Aces
Check/Call and hope for a full house
- dito for pocket 9's and 8's
- with a straight draw --> Check/Fold
- with 2 pair Check/Call and hope for the full house
- High Pairs are ok when they give you also a flush draw
(here K K)
|
Two-Suited
( e.g. A 9 8 )
| **** | This kind of flop is dangerous for all Pairs, 2 Pairs, Sets, Straights and Draws. The more players the more likely is that one player is on a flush draw. | - with A +x you should play aggressive
- A set you should play strongly. When there is resistance you Check/call and wait for a Full house.
- Straight draws are worth nothing here, when the 3rd flush card comes on the Turn or River
- Top Pairs or Overcards are good, when one of your cards is of the same suit and gives you a backdoor flush draw. |
Three connected
( e.g. 9 8 7 )
| ***** | A very dangerous flop when you don't have J T now. Even with the baby straight ( 6 5) you have problems. The possible straight beats sets, trips, 2 pair and Top Pairs. | - when you hit a straight on the flop (here JT) play it aggressive. 2 Flush cards may be dangerous for you
- when you have T and so an open ended straight draw play also aggressive
- with Sets, 2 pair or Top pair try to play aggressive but check/fold when there is much resistance
- a runner-runner flush draw is only playable with very good pot odds
- AA may be folded on the turn when there is much raising |
Two connected
Rags
( e.g. A 8 7 )
| *** | This is a less dangerous flop. Is not very likely that someone plays T 9 or 5 6
But when one more card arrives on the river ( T, 9, 6 or 5) you should pay attention.
AT/A9 or KT/K9 are playable starting hands.
| - when you hit an open ended Straight draw play aggressive. You have good chances to hit the last card too.
- With sets, 2 pairs, Overpairs or Top pairs you should try to protect your hands also aggressively |
Two connected
High Cards
( e.g. K Q 7 ) | **** | This is more dangerous, as many players play starting hands with high cards like AJ, AT, JT or so. | - when you hit an open ended Straight draw play aggressive
- With sets, 2 pairs, Overpairs or Top pairs you should try to protect your hands but check/fold with much resistance |
One High Card not suited
( A 7 2 ) | ** | There are no flush or straight draws now. Strong are Sets, 2 pair and top pair | - set: bet aggressive, don't slowplay
- 2 pair: bet aggressive, pay attention when you get much resistance
It is better when you have here an Ace for your 2 pair
- Top pair: Often the best hand, sets are rare and 2 pair not very likely because of the rags, important is your kicker |
All Rags
( 8 5 2 )
| * | This is the less dangerous flop. No flush or straight draws.
trong are Sets, 2 pair and top pair
| - set: bet aggressive, don't slowplay
- 2 pair: bet aggressive, pay attention when you get much resistance
It is better when you have here an Ace for your 2 pair
- Top pair: is not very strong here. You need to protect with raising. When the Turn or River are higher cards, you usually have to fold. |
Hand Strength
On the flop your preflop hand could improve oder devalue. The general rule is that
you need to hit something or to fold. A hit could be a monster, a made hand, a strong
draw or a weak draw.
Here we discuss the different types of hands you could hold on the flop.
Four of a kind (Quad)
This is a very rare flop for you. You will almost always win. Examples are:
- Three of a kind on the flop
You hold KQ and the flop is QQQ. Now your action depends on the number of
players still in the hand. Against a single player you should bet. When he is first
to bet only call and hope for 1 more bet on the turn. If he does so call again and
bet or raise on the river.
Against more players you should slowplay and hope for some action on the turn
when someone hits a full house. Then raise bets. Best would be in our example
an ace or a king on the turn.
- Pocket Pair and a matching pair on the flop
You hold QQ and the Flop is AQQ. As you have raised preflop (QQ !!) you should
now bet or call a bet depending on your position. You hope that someone has an
Ace and gives you some action. Slowplaying may make your oponents suspicious
with what you've raised.
Full House
Also rare to flop and very good chances to win the flop. Your "customers" are
trips which use the pair on the flop or flush draws when the flop is two-suited.
Examples are:
- You hold a high pocket pair and a high pair on the flop
You have QQ and raised preflop. The flop is AAQ. This should give you good action
with any Ace out. You have to bet aggressive. The only danger is that you are
against AQ or the Ace makes a higher full house on the turn or the river.
But normally the Ace will pay you.
Even more action is possible when an Ace and the Queen are suited on the flop.
Then flush draws will also bet or call. When the third flush card arrives on the
turn or the river you will get even more action.
- You hold a high pocket pair and a low pair on the flop
You have QQ and raised preflop. The Flop is Q77. Here you should bet the flop
and hope that someone has a seven or a queen. Dangerous is when someone
called your preflop raise with pocket sevens. But normally you should bet aggressive
when you have any caller. Ideal would be a player holding Q7, because he will cap
you until the river.
When a queen and a seven are suited on the flop flush draws will bet also. The
third flush card will give you much action.
- You hold a low pocket pair and high pair on the flop
You have 77 and called preflop. The Flop is QQ7. Unless one player has pocket queens
(preflop raise) you should get great action by any queen out. Dangerous could be
also a queen making a higher full house. So bet out aggressive.
- You hold a low pocket pair and low pair on the flop
You have 77 and the flop is 557. Here you should slowplay and hopw that someone has
a five or hits something like two pair on the turn. When you bet on the flop most
players will fold. Of course when someone bets you should raise.
Flush
To flop a flush is also very rare 118 to 1. With a small pot you should slowplay when you have
the ace or the king. Else we recommend playing aggressive here too.
Dangerous are always higher flushes, full houses (when the board pairs on the turn or the river)
or straight flushes.
Examples are:
- You have high suited cards (with the ace or king) and no straight flush possible
Slowplay and hope that someone bets and many players call. Depending on how
many players entered you could raise then already on the flop.
- You have high suited cards (with the ace or king) and straight flush possible
Slowplay and hope that someone bets and many players call. Depending on how
many players entered you could raise then already on the flop.
But take care when there is a straight flush possibility and you get much resistance.
- You have low suited cards (nine or lower) and no straight flush possible
Here you should always bet aggressive as a offsuited ace or king of your suit out
could improve to a higher flush on the turn or the river. So you should make him
pay for his draw as much as possible. When you get much resistance you should
slow down because someone maybe has a higher flush. But the odds herefore
are low (also 118:1 like above)
- You have low suited cards (nine or lower) and straight flush possible
Here you should always bet aggressive as a offsuited ace or king of your suit out
could improve to a higher flush on the turn or the river. So you should make him
pay for his draw as much as possible.
The straight flush possibilty makes it more dangerous for you when there is resistance.
Straight
Flopping a straight is a strong but vulnerable hand. You should always play these
hands aggressive.
Examples:
- You hold QJ and the flop is 10 9 8 rainbow. This is a very good flop for you.
Someone holding a ten or straight draws or lower straights (67 or J7) will give
you good action. Dangerous is when there is a jack on the turn or the river.
Then KQ will beat you.
- You hold QJ and the flop is 10 9 8 two suited. The flush draws weakens your
straight. You should make them pay as much as possible for their draws now.
So bet and raise.
- You hold QJ and the flop is 10 9 8 suited. Now your straight is almost a fold
as a flush is likely with many callers. With only 1 opponent you could still
play aggressiv.
Set / Trips
The odds for hitting a set on the flop are 7.5 to 1. A set is when you have a pocket
pair and hit a matching card on the board (e.g. you have 55 and the flop is AK5).
Trips are when one of your cards hits a pair on the flop (e.g. you have A5 and the
flop is K55). The main dangers for sets/trips are flushes and straights.
So almost always playing strongly on the flop is recommended. Don't give free cards
with set / trips.
Examples:
- Set with rainbow and not connected flop (Top Set)
You have pocket jacks (JJ) and the flop is J 8 3 rainbow.
This is the best scenario for you. Bet or raise if possible. Any 8 or 3 could be
dangerous for you. Also when there is flush draw after the turn in the board.
- Set with rainbow and not connected flop (not Top Set)
You have pocket eights (88) and the flop is J 8 3 rainbow.
A still very good hand. But now a second jack on the turn or the river will give
your opponent a higher set (or tripps here). It is also possible that he
has pocket jacks, although both scenarios are not very likely.
- Set with rainbow and connected flop
You have pocket jacks (JJ) and the flop is J 9 8.
Take care here! Q T is a normal holding for a player giving him a staight.
You now have more a drawing hand as you hope that the board pairs on the
turn or the river for a full house.
Despite that still play aggressive.
- Set with 2 suited and not connected flop
With many players in the pot someone is very likely to have a flush draw.
Play aggressive and make them pay for the draw as much as possible.
Slow down when the third flush card arrives on the turn or the river.
- Set with 2 suited and connected flop
Bad news for you. Your set is very vulnerable now. You have to improve to
a full house to win here when there are many callers.
So play aggressive on the flop and watch out what happens later.
- Set with suited and connected flop
The worst scenario. Without improving to a full house you have almost
no chance to win against many callers. Even then you may lose to a straight
flush. Betting on the flop is a good idea. The straight draws may fold fearing the
flush. Then the board pairs on the turn or the river raise them aggressively.
- Trips
Almost the same dangers and action like above. Additionaly someone could have
the other card for a trip (with a higher kicker) or a full house.
So trips a little weaker and more scaring than a set.
Two Pair
Two Pairs are good but vulnerable holdings. You will win many pots with a two pair and
sometimes you improve to a full house.
Again the strenght of your hand depends mainly on flush or straight possibilties given
to your opponents on the flop.
Almost always bet / raise your two pairs aggressively. Never allow free cards.
Example:
You have A 5 and the board is A K 5 rainbow. When there was no raise preflop you should now have
the best hand. With a raise you maybe play against AK and have only 2 outs (the remaining
fives). Bet / raise aggressively !
You have A 5 and the board is A K 5 two suited. The flush draw will add more callers contesting the pot.
When the third flush card arrives on the board you should slow down betting waiting if the river
brings you the full house.
Top Pair / Overpair
Many pots are decided just by having top pair with a good kicker. This is one of the reasons why we don't play
offsuited A8`s down to A2's, because there is often an ace out with a higher kicker.
The kicker normally decides who gets the pot. When you hit two pair or a set on the turn or the river the better
your odds are.
When you flop Top Pair with good kicker you should always bet and raise.
Example:
You hold A K and you raised preflop. The flop is K 9 3 rainbow. Bet or raise here always. Don't allow freecards.
You hold QQ and you raised preflop. The flop is J 7 2. Bet or raise here always. Don't allow freecards.
Middle / Bottom pair
These are very weak holdings. You need good pot odds to stay in these hands when someone is betting.
Against a lone opponent you should bet out, but fold against a raise.
Example:
You hold A 8 and the flop is K 8 4. With one opponent we would bet and fold to raise. With many players
in the hand we would check / fold.
You hold J 8 and the flop is K 8 4. Even worse here you have no kicker. Check / Fold is here the correct play.
Flush draw
A flush draw on the flop is when you have now four cards of the same suit. The strenght of your flush draw
depends on your high card for the flush (best is the ace, king or queen are decent) and if the board is
paired or not (no pair means no full house possible).
For a flush draw you need decent pot odds. On the flop you are about 2:1 to improve to the flush with
the turn or the river card.
With a good flush draw (you have the ace or 2 overcards) you should bet / raise aggressively. Slow
down only when the board is paired.
Examples:
This is an almost ideal flop for you. You have top pair with good kicker anc the nut flush draw.
Bet and raise aggressively.
This is a weaker holding. Despite that you should still bet and call a raise. You need to improve to
the flush to win. As many players play offsuited Aces you have good chances for action. When your
opponents slow down after the third flush card arrived your know that you have the best hand.
A strong flush draw. Someone could already have a flush but with one more heart you improve to
the nut flush.
Straight draw
Here we decide between open ended straight draws and gut-shot straight draws.
Open ended straight draw (oesd)
An open ended straight draw has 8 outs to improve. When you hold JT and the flop is A 9 8, both
a queen or a 7 make you a straight.
The odds to improve with one more card are about 5 to 1, with 2 cards (turn and river) about 2.2 to 1.
Bet and raise your oesd`s aggressively.
Gut-shot straight draw
A gut-shot straight draw has only 4 outs to improve. When you hold JT and the flop is A 9 7 you need
a eigth to improve to the straight.
The odds to improve with one more card are about 11 to 1, with 2 cards (turn and river) about 5 to 1.
You should call only when you get sufficient pot odds.
Both types of draws are devalued when there is also a flush draw on the board.
Overcard
An overcard is when you hold KQ and the board is T 7 2. You hit nothing, but you have 6 outs
to improve to top pair with good kicker.
For the beginner section we recommend that you play according to the following rules:
- When you were the preflop raiser ( e.g. with AK) bet and raise on the flop.
When you hit nothing again on the turn check / fold
- When there was no raise preflop (e.g. you hold K J with a board of T 7 2) just check and fold to
any bet.
You need to see the turn cheap to continue playing.
Trash
All other hands you should check / fold on the flop. Don't waste money for trash hands.
and and the flop is 
.
and and the flop is 
(0 vote)