Reading the Flop

Understanding of  Flop Texture and Hand Reading abilities are probably the most important skills in Texas Hold’em.

Flop Texture refers to the nature of the cards on the board, how they fit together and how they fit to different ranges.

In this article we are using the term Dry board to refer to boards that offer few drawing possibilities and Wet boards to refer to boards offering a lot of drawing possibilities. Boards in between are neutral. Some players are using the term wet boards to refer to flops that are dangerous in relation to opponents range. Personally I don’t think this makes much sense since a flop than will be both wet and dry depending on whose perspective you are looking from. And you can’t say anything about it without information on which ranges the players are likely to have.

When evaluating the flop it helps by using some characteristics:

  • High cardedness
  • Pairedness
  • Garbage (no high card, limited drawing possibilities)
  • Suitedness
  • Connectedness

The last two are what makes flops draw heavy.  The first two and the absence of any of these characteristics makes boards have limited drawing possibilities.

In this discussion we will also look at how well suited different flops are for a continuation bet with a strong hand range (15 % of best cards) versus two different ranges; a drawing range consisting of mostly low to medium pairs and suited connectors and one-gappers and a range consisting mostly of low to medium pairs. Let’s call the first a drawing range and the second a pair range.

High cardedness

A 9 4

This flop offers no drawing possibilities. It hits a strong range hard – will have pair or better 65 % of the time.

Perfect to c-bet bluff on.

K 9 4

Hits a strong range well – will have a pair or better 60 % of the time.

Perfect to c-bet bluff on.

K Q 8

Hits a strong range very well – will have pair or better 77 % of the time.

Perfect to c-bet bluff on.

A K J

Hits a strong range completely – will have pair or better 100 % of the time.

Good to c-bet on.

Pairedness

J 8 8

A strong range will have pair or better 56 % of the time.

Good to c-bet bluff against drawing range. But you might get called quite a lot from the paired range, since they will know many players c-bet bluff on this flop. If you do bluff you should probably be prepared to fire a second and possibly a third barrel depending on opponent.

9 4 4

A strong  range will have pair or better 35 % of the time. The drawing range will have pair or better 55 % of the time.

Bad for c-bets against both ranges with the strong range in this example. However, a very strong range is good to c-bet with. For example a 5 % range will have a pair or better 50 % of the time and the rest of the time two overcards which might improve to become best hand.

Garbage

9 5 2

Strong range will have pair or better 37% of the time. Drawing range will have pair or better 66 % of the time.

Bad for c-betting. Opponent will have something more often than the strong range – and they know it does not hit the strong range well.

Suitedness


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