Flop texture
Marcus Bateman
/
Marcus Bateman /
16 January 2009 /
Leave a Comment
Analysing the texture of flops is critical to being able to make the best choices when playing, by thinking careful about not only your hand, but the possible hands the board allow, you can increase your win rate dramatically
This a common term used by poker players when discussing how they played a specific hand. The term 'texture' in this context refers to what combination of cards have come down on the board, as it will nearly always have massive effects on how the hand should be played. Thinking about texture and how it impacts on your play is critical to becoming good at flop based games.
A great example of how important texture can be is when playing big pairs in hold'em. Imagine that you find your self with pocket kings and get involved in a pot with one other player. The flop comes out Qh7c2s and your opponent bets into you. On a board like this, where the cards are spaced far apart, of different suits and with no pairs on the board, you can usually be happy just trying to get your money in - most of the time your opponent will have a hand that you crush, like king queen or queen jack.
Compare this to the same situation, only the board comes out 10hJhQh and you do not have a heart in your hand. If your opponent makes a big bet into here, you face a much harder set of decisions in terms of what to do with your hand. There are a myriad of hands that can have you crushed on a board like this. Your opponent may have two pair, a made flush or straight, or a monster draw that is at worst a coin toss against your hand. It is spots like this where good players really have a big edge, as through analysing the texture of the flop and drawing on past experiences they can make calls/folds that weaker players simply can't.
The really difficult decisions that you will face when playing flop games come on boards where the texture is in between these two extremes. Boards that are partially connected, such as Qh7c8c or QhJh4c, can pose significant problems if there is heavy betting into you - often you will be up against big draws or made hands.
Analysing the texture of flops is critical to being able to make the best choices when playing, by thinking careful about not only your hand, but the possible hands the board allow, you can increase your win rate dramatically.
Related Readings
Day 1 Niagara - Should have shoved on the flop - Sorel Mizzi
Set mining is cool but don't overdo it! - Annette Obrestad
Ten Sick Poker Hands - Poker Web Watch
Early Yorkshire Pud poker training video - Video Archive
Small Ball Poker - Marcus Bateman
Betting (the flop) out of position- Marcus Bateman
Read More Poker
The Floating Explosion
One of the key changes that has affected all games in the last twelve months or so has been the massive increase in the number of players refusing to believe flop bets. It used to be the case that weak...
Flatting with aces in PLO
This is one of the hardest things to drill into good Hold'em players when they start playing Pot Limit Omaha - learning to flat with aces in many situations. Although there is certainly a time and a place to flat...
How to play a good or bad card on the turn or river
Most players are aware of how 'good' or 'bad' a card can be on the turn or river in Hold'em or Omaha. Good cards can throw up great bluffing opportunities, make your hand much safer to proceed with, or make...
The Three Poker Sites Who May Have Messed It Up For Everyone
For anyone who talked about how softened the internet generation were to gambling compared to the old Texan road players, the events of the last few weeks in poker have certainly hardened everyone who may have not seen the darker...
