Online poker for beginners Before and after the flop
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Online Poker for Beginners: Navigating the Flop
Summary
Curious about all the chatter surrounding "the flop"? If you're new to online poker, especially the concept of playing the flop, this guide is the perfect starting point.Keywords
poker for beginners, poker flop, poker online---
If you're familiar with hand rankings and the betting structure of Texas Hold’em, you're ready to dive deeper into poker strategy?"specifically, deciding which hole cards to play or fold before the flop.
Before the Flop
A common reason many beginners lose is that they play too many hands before the flop. This often results in chasing second-best hands and losing money. Ideally, you should see only about 10% of flops. Always play high pairs like aces to jacks, regardless of your position, but exercise caution with lower pairs, especially if there's a pre-flop raise. For instance, pocket jacks are less dominant than they seem: you'll encounter at least one higher card on the flop 50% of the time, which may lead to a loss.
In tournament settings, consider folding medium pairs, even in later positions, to preserve your chips. Low pairs are usually not worth playing unless you hit trips on the flop?"a mere 1 in 7 chance. If a pre-flop raise occurs, you're likely up against a stronger hand.
Hands like A-K are worth playing from any position, but caution is advised with high cards like A-J or A-Q, especially if there's been a pre-flop raise indicating the possibility of a stronger kicker like AK.
In late positions, calling with suited connectors like 8-9 of hearts can be strategic. Occasionally, you might play low cards or pairs if you’re getting favorable odds due to numerous callers.
Avoid playing any ace indiscriminately. Holding A-2, the desired flop is only 2-2-x, as a higher ace could leave you out-kicked. It's best to fold non-suited aces with low kickers. Suited aces can be played cautiously in late or sometimes middle positions, but being suited adds just a 2% potential boost.
As a beginner, focus on playing high pairs and cards universally, and reserve suited connectors and medium pairs for late positions or when entering the pot inexpensively.
After the Flop
Now that you know what to play before the flop, it's time to strategize your post-flop actions. Depending on the flop, you'll encounter one of three scenarios:
1. You hit the flop perfectly.
2. You hit partially.
3. You miss completely.
Examples:
- Perfect Flop: 10-J-Q with A-K in hand.
- Partial Hit: 7-8-2 with 6-9 in hand.
- Miss: 9-9-K with 4-5 in hand.
At this stage, 71% of your final hand is defined (5 out of 7 cards). If you haven't already hit, ensure you have favorable odds to continue. Missing entirely? Fold without hesitation.
Many players mistakenly hold onto middle pair, middle kicker hands. For example, if the flop is Q-J-6 and you have J-10, it's often better to fold unless accompanied by a top kicker. Continuously playing cautiously and folding when necessary is crucial to maintaining your stack.
When drawing, prioritize having over cards. You have nearly a 4% chance per out on the flop. For example, with a straight draw of 4-5-6-7, needing a 3 or 8, your odds stand at approximately 31.5%, or 2.2 to 1. If pot odds are favorable, proceed; otherwise, fold.
Flush draws, with nine outs, offer better prospects. Combining them with over cards or a potential straight gives you strong odds (54% or 59%). However, for hands like 8-9 of clubs, aim for a straight, as it often holds more winning potential.
Avoid playing gut-shot straights unless additional outs are present. For instance, on a 10-J-2 flop with A-K, the player has 12 potential outs, not just four.
When you hit an unbeatable straight or flush, learn to maximize your winnings.
Navigating pre- and post-flop gameplay effectively enhances your skills, setting a solid foundation in online poker.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Online poker for beginners Before and after the flop .
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