The flop is pivotal to any poker game out there. Often regarded as the main event of the game, the flop is what can make or break your hand. It is what will get some players to bet and raise, whereas other players will be forced to fold.
Enough beating around the bush. In this article, we’ll delve into the flop and explore what it is all about, what strategy you can use to excel in it and what are its dos and don’ts. After reading this, we hope that you’ll have garnered enough knowledge to shine and win a pot or two!
WHAT IS THE FLOP IN POKER?
In the world of Texas hold’em — the most popular form of poker in the world — the flop is the second betting round — when the first three community cards are laid out by the dealer. Although quite early on in the structure of the game, the flop is a very pivotal moment of a poker game, since players will discover whether theirs is a good hand or not.
The flop succeeds the pre-flop and precedes the turn and the river, in this order:
- The pre-flop is the first betting round, when no community cards are dealt. Each player receives two hole cards to decide whether they like their pot odds enough to invest in the pot. If not, players can fold and abandon the pot.
- The flop is when three cards are dealt to the table. This is the first of the betting rounds post-flop.
- The turn is when the turn card is dealt — the fourth community card. This stage is also known as the ‘fourth street’.
- The river is when the river card is dealt to the table — the final card for players to use to make a better hand. This is also the final round of betting.
What happens after the flop? After the flop, the players have the option to check, bet, call, raise, re-raise or fold, as happens in all the betting rounds. The next card revealed is the turn, followed by the river. Once all five community cards are revealed, the players must make the best five-card poker hand using any combination of their two cards and the five community cards. The player with the best hand wins the pot.
WHAT IS THE STRATEGY FOR THE FLOP IN POKER?
The strategy for the flop in poker is to assess the strength of your hand and the potential of your opponents’ hands to determine how aggressive you should be. Generally, if you have a strong hand, you should be more aggressive and try to win the pot pre-flop.
However, if you have a weak hand, it is often best to check and see if the flop improves your hand. If the flop does not improve your hand, you may want to fold in order to avoid losing too much money. It is important to remember that the strategy for the flop in poker depends on your opponent(s) and the cards on the board.
HOW TO PLAY FLOP POKER
So, what exactly should be done once the flop comes around? There are no exact poker rules that can tell you what you should and shouldn’t do at this stage, since your actions will largely depend on your hand, the three cards dealt by the dealer and your position.
Let’s start cracking. We’ll split this section into three: one where your hand improves thanks to the flop, one where it doesn’t and one where your hand becomes strong.
YOUR HAND DOESN’T IMPROVE
Everyone would expect their hand to become better after the flop. After all, that idea is what compels us to bet pre-flop. Sadly, you did not assume that your hand wouldn’t improve, and it didn’t.
Most poker strategies suggest that, in this situation, one should fold. Committing to a bad hand will cost you money that you, most likely, won’t be winning back. The likes of an Ace high or a low pair on a wet board will usually mean that losing money is more than just a possibility. Some exceptions could be made for a top pair or a two pair.
YOUR HAND GAINED POTENTIAL
What we’ll talk about now is drawing hands — ones that aren’t made but can potentially be made in later streets. For example, a flush draw is worth a bet if you’re in a good position. Making a full house by the flop would be quite an event, but that would be worth raising, especially if two or more players are in the round.
In principle, if your pocket cards are of the same suit, the chances that the flop will grant you a flush draw are somewhat significant. A flush might well come around in later streets, of course, so it’s up to you to gauge how many chips you want to commit.
YOU’VE MADE A GREAT HAND
Whether any of the face-up cards have provided you with a top card to make a straight flush or, in extreme cases, a royal flush, your best option is to stun your opponents with a big bet. Remember that poker games are a matter of capitalising on your best hand whenever they come. In this case, winning players usually go all-in or bet big so that other players will have to invest money or abandon the pot.
BEST HANDS FOR POKER FLOP
What hands do most poker players want to face the flop with? The beauty of poker is that players can make the most out of different hands, but the best hands to be played are the following:
- Pocket Aces
- Pocket Kings
- Pocket Queens
- Pocket Jacks
- Ace – King suited
- Pocket 10s
- Ace – King offsuit
- Ace – Queen suited
Playing with hands worse than these is possible, of course, but the point of this list is to show you the hands that can best lead to a win.
BETTING IN THE FLOP
Being the second betting round (after the pre-flop), players will already have an idea about each other’s holding. However, the same hand that a player thinks is great pre-flop might not remain so post-flop.
This is why you should gauge the holding of each opponent post-flop (if in late position) and bet accordingly. Although the flop will not reveal all the cards that the dealer will deal, this betting round can set the tone for the remaining betting rounds.
DOES THE BETTING ORDER CHANGE AFTER THE FLOP?
Yes, it does. The pre-flop will see a different table order, one where the dealer button precedes the small blind and the big blind. The player to the direct left of the big blind always goes first in the preflop betting round. The action then moves clockwise around the table, with the player in the big blind the last to act preflop.
In every round after that, the small blind player acts first if they’re still in the hand. If the small blind isn’t active anymore, the next player to the left of the small blind starts the action.
CAN YOU RAISE BEFORE THE FLOP?
Traditional poker rules allow players to fold, bet, call and raise before the flop. In fact, players are free to play the pre-flop as they do after the fact. When talking about a pre-flop raise, we have to point out that a previous bet must be made in order to be able to raise.
FLOP POKER STRATEGY TIPS
Different online poker sites will suggest different poker strategies, so we’ll try to keep things as basic as possible. At the end of the day, the fate of each hand depends on numerous factors.
- Playing in an ideal position is a must. If you’re stuck in early positions with a bad hand, refuse all bets and abandon the round.
- If two players or more act after you, use a value bet to determine their hand. You wouldn’t want to go toe to toe with a full house when holding a straight draw or a pair.
- Gauge your opponents’ hand strength. With two betting rounds under your thumb, you should have an idea about your opponents’ holding. Remember to avoid investing money that you are unlikely to win with your current hand.
SUMMARY
Gauging the player’s behaviour inside a poker room is a must, and in such a delicate stage of the game, it can save you money that would otherwise be lost. No matter what casino poker game you’re playing, do not belittle the importance of this betting round.