Playing Holdem After the Flop
By Al Oharra of AllOnlinePokerSites.com
Al O'Harra is a professional poker player out of Atlantic City.
See him here
Do Not Get Outplayed
Bad players get outplayed after the flop. Flop play is crucial in No-Limit Texas Holdem and it is the most difficult thing to learn in Holdem. While this poker tool is geared toward No Limit play, much of it crosses over to the Limit game and should be understood by both game players. The key to strong play after the flop is to determine the strength of your hand in comparison to the hands of your competitors. Then you must know when to muck (throw away) a hand when you suspect it to be beat and you expect your opponent to take you to a showdown. If you have a hand you believe might be best at the table, except in rare instances where you have a completely dominant hand and can slowplay, you should almost always bet it and protect a good hand from being outdrawn for free. Take the opportunities to help your opponents fold their hands. That is the definition of a strong player, a strong player bets hands they have a chance to win. Weak players call unless they know they have a relatively unbeatable hand.
- What did you flop and what is your relative hand strength (pairs, sets, straight draws, flush draws)
- Who, if anyone, raised before the flop. Does the raiser go before you and what kind of player is he/she.
- What position do you have relative to the remaining players.
- Number of players. You should rarely bluff if facing 3 or more opponents.
- What is your stack size compared to your opponents' stack size.
What we are providing you below is the “Best Play” of each hand. It is better known as ABC Poker. It is a solid basis for your game and will likely be quite successful against inexperienced players. But “Best Play” requires that you factor in the five variables above. What Best Play does not tell you is that you must mix up your play, especially against experienced players. The best players will use the below 75-85% of the time, and then do something entirely different the other 15-25%. As you will see, the Best Play is usually to bet, the Best Play often requires you to force the action.
Best Play factors in that the table knows you are not a loose player. You must only play solid starting hands. Lastly, and most importantly, know when to throw your hand away. Do not lose your chip stack protecting those damn pocket aces. Initially, you may find the aggressive play explained below an uncomfortable game. But you should learn the best play and utilize it, and you will watch your bankroll grow whether playing cash casino or online poker.
Specific Holdings at Flop and Best Play
“A” Hands after the flop (Four of a kind; Nut Full House; Nut Flush; Nut Straight)
With this type of flop your main concern is how to play in order to get the maximum pay-off. On the flop, either slow-play and check, or bet 33-50% of the pot with multiple players. Your hope is to get a lot of players will call/raise with draws and other weaker holdings. If someone else leads the betting, just call. On the turn, bet a higher percentage of the bigger pot. On the river, get as much as you think he will go.
“B” Hands after the flop (Low Full House, Flush, Straight)
Until someone indicates to you that this is not the best hand, play it exactly like the above. After the turn, you may want to protect the hand with a considerable bet, 75%-125% depending on the turn card and the possibilities it represents.
“C” Hands after the flop (Trips using pocket-pair)
Either slow-play and check (less often), or bet 33-50% of the pot with multiple players (more often).
If the board is highly coordinated, 2-3 cards in same suit or 2-3 connected cards, you want people to pay high to draw or muck. Several players are likely to be chasing, so betting the pot at 100-150% is the best play. If someone has already flopped a straight or flush you still have an approximate 34% chance of improving to at least a full house.
Note: You have a 5.9% chance of being dealt a pocket pair;
Note: You have an 11.8% chance of tripping a pocket pair on the flop; 8.4 percent after the flop.
“D” Hands after the flop (Top Two Pair; Pairing both hole cards)
Play is quite similar to playing flopped sets. Either slow-play and check (less often), or bet 33-50% of the pot with multiple players (more often). If the board is highly coordinated, 2-3 cards in same suit or 2-3 connected cards, you want people to pay high to draw or muck. Several players are likely to be chasing, so betting (or raising) to 100-150% of the pre-round pot is the best play. If someone has already flopped a straight or flush you still have an approximate 34% chance of improving to at least a full house.
“E” Hands after the flop (Bottom Two-Pair; Pairing both hole cards)
You need to protect this pot by betting (or raising) to 100-150% of the pre-round pot is the best play. This hand is in the vulnerable position of being outdrawn. In most cases, you will hit this type of hand with connected cards, which always make at least a straight-draw possible. For example, if you hold 76s and the flop is K-7-6, any K (big scare card), T, 9, 8, 3 that hits on the turn will be a scare card and, if you add a flush-draw, it becomes even worse.
“F” Hands after the flop (Overpair; A pocket-pair above highest card on the flop)
With the big pairs, you want to avoid taking flops with more than one or two opponents. It is likely you already raised pre-flop with this hand. Either slow-play and check (less often), or bet 33-50% of the pot with one or multiple players (more often). If pot has already been bet, raise. If the board is highly coordinated, 2-3 cards in same suit or 2-3 connected cards, you want people to pay high to draw or muck. Several players are likely to be chasing, so betting (or raising) the pot at 100-150% is the best play.
Note: You may have to release this type of hand when facing an over-bet or a raise. In such cases, someone could hold trips, two pair, or even a bigger overpair. Knowing the game of the player that did the raising is crucial.
“G” Hands after the flop (Top-pair, Ace Kicker)
Most of the time, bet on the flop and continue on the turn about 33-50% of the pot with multiple players (more often).
If the board is highly coordinated, 2-3 cards in same suit or 2-3 connected cards, you want people to pay high to draw or muck. Some players are likely to be chasing, so betting the pot at 100-150% is the best play. If someone has already flopped a straight or flush you still have an approximate 34% chance of improving to at least a full house.
“H” Hands after the flop (Nut draws with 9 outs or more: ace flush draw, two over-cards and a straight draw, straight flush draw)
If you check after the flop and hit your card, you are unlikely to get paid out anywhere near as well as betting. Put pressure on your opponent by betting, raising or check-raising. An aggressive move is preferred against only one or two opponents who can fold decent hands. A flush draw with an Ace kicker gives you 12 outs, 9 nut outs and 3 top-pair outs. Twelve outs gives you a 45% chance to hit on turn and river combined.
Late position gives extra advantage with this type of hand, as you can decide whether to re-raise, bet, check, call or fold depending on the action in front of you. If you are short-stacked, consider moving all-in from any position. This is the best “drawing hand” you can have, draw for it unless the size of an opponents bet make the pot odds too difficult. Know how many outs you have in deciding whether to call a bet.
Note: Poker Outs After the Flop
Flush Draw with 2 Overcards, 15 Outs, 54.1 % Chance of Completion
Flush Draw with 1 Overcards, 12 Outs, 45 % Chance of Completion
Flush Draw, 9 Outs, 35 % Chance of Completion
Straight Draw, 8 Outs, 31.5 % Chance of Completion
Gut Shot Straight Draw, 4 Outs, 16.5 % Chance of Completion
“I” Hands after the flop (Top-pair, Weak Kicker)
Most of the time you should bet on the flop: Check if you are in early position: make a 33% pot bet if you are in middle position; Make a 50% pot bet if you are in late position and those in front of you have checked. If you bet and are raised, consider mucking the hand. On the turn, if you have not isolated your opponents in the hand to one, you are likely beat and you must consider mucking the hand.
Generally, you should fold when facing a pot-sized bet from a tight player. You may be out-kicked or even facing an over-pair. Avoid getting heavily involved with this type of hand unless you have a lot of additional outs to improve the hand, like a straight draw or a flush draw. For instance, you are holding 89s and the flop is 6-7-8 with two cards of your suit. Although you only have top-pair with a weak kicker, this hand gives you 20 outs to outdraw someone holding an overpair or A8, thus making you the favorite to win.
“J” Hands after the flop (Second-pair; Pocket-pair between the flop's high and middle card) or (Middle-pair, Ace Kicker)
Both hands have similar value and are played in a similar fashion. If you are late/last to act and it is checked to you, bet 33-50% of the pot and try to take it down right there. If you have late/last position with no more than two opponents that checked the flop, you should bet an un-raised pot. Fold if a strong player bets in front of you, especially if there are players left behind you. If you bet, in most cases you should release your hand if you get raised. The only exception is when you strongly suspect that a weak/aggressive player is drawing. In that case you call, or in rare instances re-raise, and wait to see what unfolds on the turn.
With the Ax hands, having them suited is a very important to the hands playability. With this hand you want to hit two-pair, trips, a pair and the nut flush draw, etc, to make them long term viable. One pair has limited worth.
“K” Hands after the flop (Third-pair; pocket-pair below the flop's second card) or (Middle-pair, Weak Kicker)
When there are only two or three players in the pot either check-fold or make a position bet when checked to you. Take free cards when available in the hopes of hitting two pair or trips. Check- In most cases you should fold to another players bet, but 20-25% of the time, consider putting pressure on your opponent by raising, check-raising. If a pressure tactic fails and you get called, size up your opponent after the turn to see if a second sizeable bet will force a fold. If he was drawing, it very well may, if he has a made hand. Check/Fold.
“L” Hands after the flop (Low-pair, Ace Kicker) and (Low-pair with Low Kicker)
While the Ace kicker is the better hand, both are likely dominated at this point and, therefore, both hands have similar value and are played in a similar fashion. Fold to any action as you likely have only 5 outs. If you decide to bet, it should be solely on your belief the bluff will work given: few players, position, no face cards on the flop, etc. Be ready to risk enough money to get the remaining player (s) to fold. An aggressive move is preferred against only one or two opponents who can fold decent hands.
“M” Hands after the flop (Non-nut draws)
For the most part you should avoid betting or chasing on a second or third-best draw, especially on flush draws where you may frequently find yourself up against a suited Ace. Be prepared to fold your non-nut draw, particularly in raised multi-way pots. With a second-best draw, such as a king high flush, you can make a decent bet in an un-raised pot and try to win it right away. You want to see the turn as cheaply as possible and find out if you make your hand. Call or fold depending on the board, players, pot size, number of opponents, and amount of current bet. Bad players lose way too much money right here. Don’t do it.
Know how many outs you have in deciding whether to call a bet and be careful you are not drawing dead against the nuts.
Note: Poker Outs After the Flop
Flush Draw with 2 Overcards, 15 Outs, 54.1 % Chance of Completion
Flush Draw with 1 Overcards, 12 Outs, 45 % Chance of Completion
Flush Draw, 9 Outs, 35 % Chance of Completion
Straight Draw, 8 Outs, 31.5 % Chance of Completion
Gut Shot Straight Draw, 4 Outs, 16.5 % Chance of Completion
Overcards - AK, AQ, KQs, AJs
If the board comes with no face cards (Ace, King, Queen or Jack), you can bet about 75-100% of the pot as a bluff/semi-bluff, representing an over-pair. Bet Ace-King like a high pair whether you have hit or missed on the flop if you have only 1 or 2 remaining players in the hand. Do not bet this hand against suited/connected flops with several opponents. You will lose money and "bluff equity", to be used when better served. Remember that your overcards might still be the best hand against one or two opponents with a flop of rags, especially AK.
On the Turn
As a general rule you still want to have the lead and build the pot. If you were betting a draw on the flop, you must use your best judgment and decide whether to fire again. Remember to always re-evaluate your hand as the play progresses. Do not call down big bets with a medium holding, unless you play with a habitual bluffer or a player who is quite obviously on tilt.
On the River
Avoid betting small unless you are sure you have your opponent beat and they will not call a bigger bet. Either check, win the bet by pressuring him to muck, or force your opponent to make an uncomfortable call. Checking to induce a bluff should rarely be used unless you know your opponents style of play very well.
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