A big chunk of poker plays are made post-flop. This is why many seasoned players advise the new guys to develop this side of their game first. Making the right decisions post-flop is an essential skill in poker. Becoming good at post-flop play is necessary if you want to get good at playing the later streets.
There are many different aspects to post-flop play in poker. In this article, we will be discussing the general principles that you should follow when playing post-flop. These tips will help you make better decisions and hopefully win more money in the long run.
But first, what is a pre-flop and post-flop in poker?
The pre-flop is the stage of the hand where everyone has been given their hole cards (the first two cards dealt to you). This is when the initial round of betting occurs. The flop is the first three community cards that are given face up in the middle of the table. The turn is the fourth community card that is dealt, and the river is the fifth and final community card.
Now that we clearly understand what pre-flop and post-flop are, let’s look at some tips to help you improve your post-flop play.
1. You should have a plan before the flop even hits
Before you even see the flop, you should have a plan for how you will play the hand. This doesn’t mean that you should know exactly what you will do on each street. But, you should at least have a general idea of how you will play the hand.
Are you going to be aggressive or passive?
Are you going for a continuation bet often or a check-raise?
These are the types of questions that you should be asking yourself before the flop even hits. A plan will help you make better decisions when the action gets to you.
2. Look at your opponents and the table situation
When making your post-flop decisions, it is important to consider your opponents and the overall table situation. Try to figure out if the people across the poker table are playing tight or loose.
Look for visual cues in their faces and body language. Are they doing a short look or a long look? A short look is usually an indication that they have a good hand. A long look might mean that they have some doubts about their hands.
The same goes for their body language. Are they leaning back or forward? This could give you an indication of how strong their hand is. The better you get at reading people, the easier it will be for you to make post-flop decisions.
3. Don’t be afraid to mix things up
One of the most important things to understand about a poker game is that you need to be able to mix things up. People will catch on and start playing against you if you are always doing the same thing. You need to be able to switch things up and keep your opponents guessing.
This doesn’t mean that you should be completely random in your decisions. But, it would help if you had enough variety in your game that people can’t put you on a specific hand.
4. Don’t fall in love with your hand when you play poker
Just because you have a good hand doesn’t mean you should be afraid to fold it. If the flop hits and there is much action, you should be willing to let go of your hand if you don’t have a made hand.
Save your poker chips for another round!
You should also be aware of the fact that people might be bluffing. Just because someone bets big on the flop doesn’t mean they have a good hand. If you think that someone might be bluffing, you should be willing to call their bet and see what happens on the turn.
5. Learn to read the board texture
The board texture is the overall feel of the flop. Is it a dry board or a wet board? A dry board is a flop that doesn’t hit any of the player’s range very hard. A wet board is a flop that hits a lot of players’ ranges.
You should be aware of the board’s texture when making post-flop decisions. If it is a dry board, you can be more aggressive with your betting because people are less likely to have good hands. If it is a wet board, you should be more cautious with your betting because people are more likely to have good poker cards.
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6. Be aware of pot odds and implied odds
Pot odds are the odds you are getting from the pot. Implied odds are the odds you are getting from the pot + the expected value of future bets.
When making post-flop decisions, you should be aware of both pot odds and implied odds. You should be more likely to call a bet if you are getting good pot odds. If you are getting good implied odds, you should be more likely to make a bet.
Don’t flop the post-flop!
Post-flop play is an integral part of poker. If you want to be an excellent post-flop player, you should have a general idea of how you will play the hand before the flop hits. You should also take into account your opponents and the overall table situation. And, don’t be afraid to mix things up.
