The flop is an extremely important part of Texas Hold’em. This is advice on how to act in specific situations that might arise during a game.

Playing a full house

• When there is a pair on the board and you hold the low set you will get lots of action from a player holding trips. By betting or raising you make him or her pay for drawing to a bigger full house.
• If you hold one of the pair cards and the low-card you will also get a lot of action from someone holding trips. By betting or raising you make him or her pay for attempting to outdraw you.

Playing a flush

• When the flop pairs, a player holding a set will give you a lot of action and, if your hand is the strongest, you should make him or her pay to outdraw you (remember that a full house is possible).
• Remember that if you do not have the nut flush, someone else might be drawing to a bigger flush.

Playing a straight

• When there are possible draws (flushes or higher straights) on the flop, you should bet or raise. It’s vital that you make your opponents pay for trying to outdraw you.
• When the flop pairs, a player holding a set will give you a lot of action and, if your hand is the strongest, you should make him or her pay to outdraw you (remember that a full house is possible).

Playing sets (three of a kind) with a pocket-pair

• When there are possible draws (flush or straight) on the flop, you should bet or raise. It’s vital that you make your opponents pay for trying to outdraw you.
• If the flop comes with big cards, and it was raised pre-flop, you will probably get a lot of action if you make a bet. In addition to this, the bet will give you information as to whether your three of a kind is good or not.

Playing two-pair using both pocket cards

• Avoid slow playing these kinds of hands. If you get the chance you should bet out or raise.
• If there are many possible draws on the board you should bet or raise. You want to make your opponents pay to hit their drawing hands.
• If your two-pair contains a “weak” Ace, you have to try to maximize the payoff. Players with A-K or A-Q are likely to stay in the hand to the end, and that is something you should take advantage of.
• If your two-pair is small, you have to watch out for Aces and Kings on the turn and river. If these cards come someone might well have hit a higher two-pair.

Playing over pairs

• In order to protect your hand and make your opponents fold you should bet or raise.
• Sometimes you might check-raise with this type of hand if you think an opponent will bet, and that your raise will force other players to throw their cards away.
• If someone raises, you should generally re-raise.

Playing a top-pair

With a strong kicker

• Generally you should make value bets on the flop (and the turn as well), in order to maximize the pay off. You will often be up against, calling stations, that will see the hand down with weaker kickers or even worse hands.
• If the pot has been raised you should be careful. Someone might be holding an over pair.
• Protect yourself against drawing hands by raising if someone makes a bet.

With a weak kicker

• If you get the chance, you should bet out. This is the best way to find out the strength of your hand. Sometimes you might even win the pot.
• If someone raises you should generally fold.
• If there are a lot of draws on the flop you have to be careful.
• If the flop came with three high cards you might well be beaten by a two-pair, or top-pair with a stronger kicker.

Playing second pairs

• You should fold or bet with this type of hand. Weak/loose players will often chase on middle-pairs or draws. In addition to this you might make solid players fold stronger hands, like top pair.
• However, if someone raises, you should fold.
• If someone has made a bet before it’s your turn to act, you should generally fold. This is especially true if there are players to act behind you.

Playing middle pairs

With a strong kicker

• You should fold or bet with this type of hand. Weak/loose players will often chase on with weaker hands or draws. In addition to this you might make solid players fold stronger hands, like top or second pair.
• Remember that with this hand you have 5 outs that can make you two-pair or trips. Call bets only if you have correct pot odds and if you think will win the pot if you hit your hand.

With a weak kicker

• You should generally fold these kinds of hands. The exception is if you are playing heads-up.

Playing strong drawing hands

• Go for draws where you only need one card to make your hand (a flush or a straight).
• Generally, you should not draw to a straight if there are two suited cards on the board, unless you get excellent pot odds. Remember to count two of your outs (the flush cards) as dead (giving you 6 outs instead of 8).
• Generally you should avoid going for a straight or a flush if there is a pair on the table because of the potential risk of a full house. You will need better pot odds than normal to draw.
• Instead of just calling, you should sometimes put pressure on the other players by betting, raising or check-raising. Be aggressive, especially when facing only one or two opponents who might fold decent cards.
• With really strong draws (for example, a nut flush draw with an Ace kicker gives you 12 outs), you will have almost a 50% chance of hitting on the turn and river combined. In these cases you should generally play aggressively since this tactic probably will give your Ace a better chance of winning if you hit.
• Late positions offer an extra advantage as you can raise to build the pot if there are several players in the pot. This might give you a free card if everyone checks to you on the turn, and your hand has not improved.

Playing over cards

• If there are many players still in the hand, and you do not hit, you should generally fold.
• Only draw to overcards if the pot gives great odds, and the board looks favorable (no strong drawing possibilities).
• Even if you hit one of your overcards on the turn, you have to be careful. Always keep in mind that the same card might give someone else two-pair or an even better hand.