Welcome to part 3 of The Poker Monkey...yada yada, bla bla bla. Here you will learn how to play the flop!

The flop is the main part of Texas Hold'em Poker, after that has been shown, you have seen 71 % of your final hand, and it has (if you followed the second part in the guide) only cost you one betting round.

Fit or fold, that's the way to go. It's a good ground rule, which means the flop must suit your hand, or it's best to fold. The flop fits your hand when it:

• Improves your hand
• Gives you a draw, and the pot odds aren't against you
• Is so bad, that your opponents can't have anything good either (if they aren't extremely lucky, be careful for any crazy bets).

After the flop you have to make som big decisions to continue playing. To continue often means it will cost you money. Is it worth it? Let's find out!

High cards

If you, for example, have AK and the flop is J 8 3, you have "Over Cards" - both your cards are higher than the ones on the table. If anyone is betting before you, it's likely they have a J or perhaps even an 8. Or why not a higher pair like AA KK or QQ on their hand?

Do they or don't they?
At times like these, it's good if you have studied your opponents behaviour in previous rounds. If some one always bets like a crazy person, no matter the flop, it can be profitable to call his bet, if they aren't to big, cause it's a good chance he's bluffing. But, if more than one player is raising up the pot, fold immediatly. Then it's pretty obvious that you don't have the best hand..
A lot of people make the mistake to call with AK in this situation, hoping to catch a King or an Ace later on. That's just stupid. Think about it - there are only six cards out of 47 that can give you a better hand than anyone already have. So please fold in these situations, it's well worth it. Don't forget - saved money is worth just as much as earned money!

Catching a draw on the flop

How will you act if you get a straight or a flush draw (four cards that can make a straight or flush with a bit of luck)? It's all about pot odds! Are the odds of you getting your draw higher than the money you will earn? This is a major part of Texas Hold'em. If you don't master pot odds calculation, you shouldn't be playing Hold'em at all.

Example: You have AJ in diamonds. The flop is Q 8 5, two of them are also diamonds. If any of the two following cards on the table is of diamonds, you have a flush, and also the highest flush, because you got the Ace on your hand (nut flush).
So, what are the odds of getting a flush with the turn and the river left?
You have two diamonds in your hand, and two on the table, which means you have nine diamonds left in a deck of 47 cards. The odds are therefore about 19% to get that flush on each card, a total of 33% on both cards. So - not 50%, as you might think (because there are two chances to get a straight, and there are four colors).

But even though the odds aren't as great as you want to beleive, they are quite good anyhow. Now you have to know how pot odds work. Is it worth calling?

Another example: The pot is up on $21. The bet you are about to call is on $7. Therefore, the odds are against you (because the pot odds are 7/28, or 25 %, and the odds of getting the flush is 19%). In the long run, you will lose more money than you win in this situation. Try to learn this as good as possible. A good rule is to call small bets, whan a lot of other players also call before you.

If the pot is at $21 and the bet to call is $3, the pot odds suddenly are 12,5%, which means the odds of getting a flush is lower this time. Now - it's time to call.

If you understand the connection, you can start winning money on poker. If you don't accept the pot odds, you will never be a winner. Trust The Monkey.

Click here to learn mor about odds in Texas Hold'em Poker!

Some ground rules at the flop:

• Mostly, the flop won't fit your cards. If you have QQ, and the flop is A K 7, you are most likely beaten.
• If you have a straight or flush draw, go for it as long as the pot odds are in your favor. If you don't understand pot odds, you must be stupid. I explained them for you above, remember!?
• Be aggressive if the flop gives you a good hand (the best hand). Bet if you are sure you have the best hand, and don't let anyone raise you to fold. Be careful for anything that looks like a flush or a straight, though.
• If you flop a hand with many possibilities, such as a high pair and a draw, play even mor aggressively. With many ways to win the pot, you might as well raise it, as your chances are good you will bring it home.
• Sometimes, you might want to bet even if you don't flop anything. This is tricky, and shouldn't be used to often. To bluff good comes with experience. Try it on Play Money tables what usually works and what doesn't. And, of course, it's easier to bluff in No Limit, than in Limit Poker.
• Never let intuition or impulses rule your game. Then you will be broke before you can say The Poker Monkey's Guide to Texas Hold'em Poker. Poker is a game of skill, with a bit of luck involved. Winning poker players aren't lucky - they are smart.

Next lesson is all about how to play the turn card. Click here to continue the guide!