The
signature of the famous 1970s game show Let’s Make a Deal was the anticipation
of what was behind door number one, two or three. Contestants held their breath,
waiting to find out whether their prize would be a delight or a dud. Awaiting
the flop in a game like Texas Hold ’Em is similar. You are certain it’s coming.
You just don’t know what it will be.
Once you’ve been dealt your two
cards in Hold ’Em and decided to play them, the next stop on your road to
success of failure is the flop. Post-flop strategy is determined by the usual
suspects, like how you wagered during the first round of betting, whether the
game is loose or tight and players remaining in the hand. Whether you will be
hanging around for the turn and river will be influenced by what’s revealed in
the next three cards:
A trio that’s truly a flop: In a large percentage of cases, the
flop won’t produce what you want, so it’s best to understand the philosophy of
missing it completely. First, don’t assume the hand is over if you strike out on
the flop. The next course of action depends on what the other players did before
the flop, and whether they’re looking to fold or bet. For example, if you paid
to see the flop with a K-9 suited, and the result was 10-5-2 off-suit, don’t
wave the white flag. With no overcard on the board, your king-high might still
be the best hand at the table.
Power
Pair: If you’ve flopped a pair, that’s great. If you’ve flopped top
pair, that’s even better. Top pair in a community card game is when a player has
paired a hole card with the highest card on the board. For example, if you have
that same K-9 suited and the flop is K-5-2 unsuited, you’ve hit top pair. If the
flop were 9-5-2, you would also be holding the best pair. Chances are that you
have the best hand on the board if there’s no other pair. And if the three
flopped cards are unsuited, the decreased flush potential makes your pair look
ever better. Another scenario is that you stayed to see the flop with a 9-8 club
connector and got top pair when an unsuited 9-6-3 was flopped. This is a hand
you bet in a tight game, but check in a loose one, where everyone sticks around
to see the flop, making the chances higher that an ace, king or jack is lurking
out there.
Waiting to draw: A drawing hand is when a
player puts his faith in the odds and a little luck. With a drawing hand, you
flop a lot of potential. A four-flush – four suited cards after the flop – or a
high open-end straight draw put the pot odds with two or more players in your
favor. For example, if you played that 9-8 club connector and the flop was K
club, 7 club, 3 diamond, you have the four-flush. The odds of hitting a flush
have gone to 4-1 on the turn and 5-1 on the river. When there’s five or more
players in the hand, it’s best to limit your bets and get in cheap in case you
don’t draw the winning hand. Against a small field, if you draw the best flush
available within each hand, considering raising.
High-End
Hand: The pulse goes up and the hardest part about playing this hand is
staying in control. When the dream flop hits, giving you two pair, trips,
straights, a flush, or maybe even a full house, you will likely win the hand.
But don’t lose control. You want to bet appropriately to thin the field, but not
chase everyone away. Analyze what it would take for the other players to beat
you on the turn or river. If you’re in a loose game, bet heavy. If it’s tight,
bet conservative and string some of the other players along.
