EXAMPLE OF PLAY in TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER
In poker, learning good starting hand selection is probably the easiest and quickest way to improve your game. It's the foundation for the rest of the
hand, and good decisions early lead to easier decisions in later betting rounds. In this section, we present some examples and discussion on how to play
your poker hand on the flop, turn, and the river.
The Flop in Texas Hold'em Poker
The most important thing to remember is that the flop is the defining moment for your hand. Determining that your hand is good post-flop is much more difficult than pre-flop. If you have limped in from late position with a marginal hand, you need to remember why you limped in. You are looking for the flop to hit you hard--- flopping a set or trips, two-pair, a straight draw, or a flush draw. Many people will play marginal hands and put more money into the pot if they catch any piece of the flop. If three or four people see the flop, the chances that your bottom or middle pair are the best hand (and/or will be the best hand by the river) are very low. You don't want to put yourself in a position where you need to "hope" to win the hand.
Example #1: You saw the flop with 6s 6h, and the board reads:
  
Two players check to you, you check, and the button bets. One person folds, another calls. You should fold. If you see the flop with a small pocket pair and don't make a set (or have an overpair or four-to-the-straight), there is no reason to put more money into the pot is there are multiple players. This is especially true if there is a bet and a caller already--- you need to ask yourself what the other players are betting or calling with. The chances that your small pocket pair are the best hand are very slim. You have only 2 outs to catch a set (approximately 8% chance of making a set by the river), and in the long-run you will be lose money by calling.
Example #2: You saw the flop with 6s 6h, and the board reads:
Four players saw the flop, it's checked to you in middle position. Many players would naturally want to slow-play this hand--- the only possible hand better than yours is pocket kings! There is, however, a flush-draw possible. If a diamond falls on the turn, your hand is possibly compromised. You should bet your set, and make the other players pay to see the turn. The only exception to this is if you are positive that a player after you will bet. If you can be sure that someone else will bet, you may want to go for a check-raise, and soak the other players for even more chips.
Example #3: You are on the button with 9s 8s. Flop is:
  
The player in the big blind bets, and there are two callers. You hold bottom pair with no straight or flush possibilities. You should fold. This seems like the obvious play, it IS the obvious play, but you will be surprised at how many players will call in this spot just because they have a pair. It's these players that will make poker profitable for you.
Example #4: You are on the button with 9s 8s. Flop is:
 
The player in the big blind bets, and there are two callers. You flopped a straight draw. Any Jack or 6 completes your straight (though a heart could possibly make someone a flush). You really only have two choices--- call or raise. If you call, and you miss your straight on the turn, you'll probably want to call another bet and see the river. Raising is the stronger play. You have a good draw, a good chance to make your straight, and by raising you are representing that you have a better hand that you actually do. Raising also gives you the possibility of buying a "free card".
Example #5: You have Ah Ad in early position. The flop is:
  
The big blind checks to you, you bet. The player after you raises, a few players fold, and the big blind reraises. It's hard to fold AA, but you need to be able to do it. In this situation, you are almost certainly behind in the hand. Someone could have a set, they could have a flush (or a very good flush draw), or a made straight. The only chance you have to improve your hand is to catch another ace, but you wouldn't want the ace of spades, and even three aces won't be a straight or flush. If on the other hand, you held:
You should probably call. You have an overpair, with a draw to the nut flush.
The Turn in Texas Hold'em Poker:
If you see the turn, you should have either a good draw, or a good possibility of having the best hand. Just as good play pre-flop makes your decisions on the flop easier, correct play on the flop simplifies your play on the turn.
Example #1: You hold As Kd in late position. You had raised pre-flop, bet the flop, and were called by two players. The board reads:
 
The other two players checked to you and you are last to act. You need to check. The reason why you bet the flop with nothing is so that you could represent a strong hand, and have it checked to on the turn if you didn't improve. Since they called, it's likely that at least one of them has some sort of a hand. By checking, you have the chance to see the river, where you might catch an ace or king, for free.
Example #2: You are in the big blind with Kh 2h and saw the flop for free. On the flop, the button bet, and three of you see the turn:
 
You're first to act. You made two pair on the turn and a flush draw. There are only two real choices for you to make--- bet out, or try for a check-raise. Betting out is probably the best and most profitable choice. It's possible that the button will not bet and give you an opportunity for a check-raise (he may check and take a free card). Most people will try for the check-raise here--- people naturally try to be tricky. If you were the button or the other player and someone check-raised you here, you would know to fold unless you had a really good hand.
The River in Texas Hold'em Poker:
If you've made it to the river, you either have a good hand or a draw. There is no other reason to see the river. Don't call your way to the river hoping for a gutshot straight or hitting two pair or making a set with your underpair. You will lose money. You should only see the river with a hand that is likely to improve to the best hand, or a made hand.
Folding on the river with anything but a busted draw is also a bad idea. Unless there is a raising war, you need to call a river bet with any hand that has a possibility of winning. Remember, you made it to the river for a reason. But what if you have a junk hand at the river? - well, you should probably have folded your hand on previous betting rounds.
If you have the "nuts", raise and reraise. Always try to get as much money from your opponents as you can.
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