11.16.09
The Drawing Board
No matter how strong your starter poker hand in Texas Hold ‘Em, the flop still holds sway over whether your two big cards, like Pocket Kings or Aces, will win. If a flop comes out, then those first three cards on the board can reinforce or crush a starting hand.
If you are holding the best pair possible, you may want to bet. But examine the board carefully. Even if you hit a set, the board could still shape up to smash your made hand. Look to see if there are three to one suit that could give another a player a flush. Or are there consecutive cards that connect into a straight? Any time the board pairs, it’s possible another poker online player has hit a full house or even quads.
You must study the board carefully and figure out what any other players could potentially be drawing to for a hand. Use the board cards to deduce what your opponents may be holding.
There are players who, holding a made hand like a set, have their raises called, then get beat on the river. They fail to remember that it is a seven card game, and players can chose to risk their chips if desired on a draw. Learn to recognize a drawing board and how a winning hand can be turned into second best when another poker online player can draw out to the straight, flush or higher hand.
