When a poker player sits down to play Holdem or Omaha poker, the components of the games come into play. In either game, the player is dealt cards face down and then a round of betting is completed. In Holdem two cards are dealt and in Omaha, four cards are dealt. After the betting round, the Flop is dealt. This consists of three cards dealt face up in the center of the table. These cards as well as two that follow are common to each player’s hand. When the Flop is dealt, the ratio of cards that will make up the final hands is five out of seven for Holdem and seven out of nine for Omaha. With this many cards known to each player, the value of each hand is beginning to be known and the player can make a judgment as to whether they should call the round of betting following the Flop.
If a player has a pair of aces in the pocket, the chances of them being good at this point is pretty good if the Flop does not contain a pair. A player could have a set if one of the cards matches a pair he holds. The betting and raising will usually alert what each player is likely to hold. If the Flop contains three suited cards, the best hand could be a flush at this point or at least four to a flush. Again the betting and raising will tell the tale. If the Flop contains connected cards there is the possibility of a player having a straight or at least four to a straight.
All of these considerations that can be seen from the Flop signify how important the Flop is to the play of the hand. Possible hands that can be made need to be considered by each player and this will determine if they fold, call or raise the pot.
If the Flop conjures up a powerful hand, a player could try to run a bluff. This may work and it may be very costly. If a player has the hand you are suggesting you have, they are probably going to call or raise. A bluff depends on your courage and the other players having a marginal hand. If a player has a strong hand you will get called or raised. As you can see the Flop sets a lot of action in motion and lets each player imagine what others may hold or be drawing to. A strong hand on the Flop should be well bet unless it is highly unlikely that it can be out drawn like four of a kind or a straight flush. Then it may be wise to sand bag the hand in hopes that another player makes a good second best hand.
If the possible end hand needs help or can be easily beaten, a player should be careful with too much aggressive betting. The Turn card and the River card can devastate even a good hand in either game. Texas Holdem gets its name from the saying, “I’ve got them if I can Holdem”. The River card is notorious for turning a good hand into an expensive loser. One of the subtle games that many good players use is to try to see a Flop for as little money as they can. This is very true in the early stages of Tournaments. Watch the early part of a TV tournament or one on the Internet and you will see what I am talking about. Players can make or break almost any hand with the Flop. Try to see the Flop as cheaply as you can is not a bad way to play either game.
|
