The Telling Flop
In Texas Hold ‘Em poker, the flop changes everything. Big hands, like pocket Aces, can be reduced to nothing when a paired or flushed board shapes up. After making the decision to play a hand – and some, like pocket faces, are no-brainers – the next most important decision to make is how to play the flop.
The flop reveals which pocket hands are likely to complete to potential poker online winners. You must look for straight or flush possibilities. Sometime the flop brings all unrelated cards, and seemingly the highest pair will win the hand.
Once the flop comes out, you must decide how to proceed. If the flop has hit your hand to completion – making two pair or a set – then come out firing with a raise. Even though you have made a hand, it can still get cracked if there are any flush or straight possibilities. And the board could always pair on the turn or river to give someone else a full house or quads.
With a huge hidden monster – a flopped straight – you can check from early position and let someone else do the betting for you. Flopping a flush will rarely win any sizeable pot. If you flop a small flush, bet it to win right away rather than allowing another player to draw a fourth card to the suit.
When the flop misses your hand, or only offers a few measly outs, like two to a set or four to an inside straight, then lay it down to any bet. Don’t chase after missed or long shot flops. Save your chips for better opportunities when you play poker online.
