Poker: Texas Hold'em

Lesson 2: Hand Selection

The Flop

The flop consists of the first three community cards. Deciding whether to continue playing after seeing the flop will be your second biggest decision. It can be a costly decision if you continue after the flop with an inferior hand.

The flop defines your hand. This is because your hand is now 71% complete. You have seen five of the seven cards that will be used in the hand. With this much of your hand complete, you should have enough information to determine whether or not to continue.

If the flop does not fit your hand by giving you “top pair” or better, a straight, or a flush draw, then you should fold. A top pair is when one of a player’s pocket cards pairs with the highest of the community cards.

If you played a small pair and you do not flop a third one to make three-of-a-kind, you should throw the pair away.

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