Theory

The flop can often be a fairly easy bet to play, compared to the blind pre-flop betting and the agonizing decisions you'll make on the turn.

By analyzing the texture of the flop (this is a key term and idea in hold'em), you'll be able to make a lot of educated guess concerning how you stack up against your opponents.

The way you do this, in a nutshell, is first by assessing your own hand, of course. Generally, three things can happen to you on the flop. They are the following:

1. Good Flop: you've hit high pair with a good kicker, pulled a set, or perhaps even hit a straight or flush. Flops which have both flush and straight opportunities, along with high pairs (thus giving you many outs, or ways to improve your hand) also fall in this category.

2. Middling Flop: you're middle pair, or high pair with a low kicker, or on a straight or flush draw. Basically, these are flops which don't put you in the driver?s seat right away, but which have a decent chance of improving.

3. Bad Flop: We all know these flops. Too well. Let's start off with an example. you're in late position with Ad-Kd against a bunch of aggressive players. The pot?s already huge, and you're headed for a big play. Then the flop comes 7c-5h-Qc. A worse flop is hard to imagine. Another example--4h-5h pocket draws a Kc-As-Js flop. Uh-uh. Try again next time.

Once you've figured out what your possibilities are (this takes about 2.5 seconds for an experienced player), it's time to put together how the flop went for the other guys. This is where hold'em becomes a lot like detective work, with a whole bunch of inductive reasoning.

This reasoning is the most crucial aspect of successful hold'em play.

it's absolutely essential that you devote yourself to a careful study of your opponents? probable holdings. This includes careful concentration on the betting at all stages. However, the first-round betting and the cards showing aren't the only clues you have to go on.

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