The “flop” is a pivotal stage in community card poker games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, referring to the first three community cards dealt face-up on the table. These three cards are dealt simultaneously after the initial pre-flop betting round has concluded. The flop is crucial because it reveals the majority of the shared cards, often dramatically altering the strength and potential of each player’s hand and setting the stage for subsequent betting rounds.
Example
Imagine you’re playing Texas Hold’em and you’re dealt A♠ K♠ as your hole cards. After the pre-flop betting, the dealer burns a card and then deals the flop: K♦ 7♣ 2♥. This flop immediately gives you a strong pair of Kings (top pair with your Ace kicker). However, if the flop had been Q♠ J♠ T♦, you would now have a strong straight flush draw, showcasing how the flop can completely change the dynamics and strategy of a hand.
Strategy Tip
When the flop is dealt, immediately evaluate how it connects with your hole cards. Did you hit a strong hand (like a pair, two pair, or set)? Do you have a strong draw (like a flush draw or open-ended straight draw)? Or did you completely miss? Your strategy post-flop should be heavily influenced by the “board texture” – whether the flop is “wet” (many draws possible) or “dry” (few draws), and how it might have helped your opponents. Be prepared to adjust your betting, checking, or folding decisions based on this new information, always considering your opponents’ likely holdings and actions.
FAQ
Q: Why is it called the “flop”?
A: The exact origin of the term “flop” is not definitively known, but it’s widely believed to have emerged from the way the cards are “flopped” or quickly dealt onto the table. Unlike “turn” and “river” which denote sequential progression, “flop” is simply a traditional term for this specific action in poker.
Q: What’s a “dry flop” versus a “wet flop”?
A: A “dry flop” (or “ragged flop”) is one that is unlikely to have significantly improved many players’ hands, often featuring low, unconnected cards of different suits (e.g., 8♣ 3♠ 2♦). A “wet flop” (or “connected flop”) offers many possibilities for strong hands or draws, such as multiple high cards, cards that are close in rank, or cards of the same suit that create flush draws (e.g., J♥ T♥ 9♠).
Q: Can the flop be skipped in a poker game?
A: No, in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, the flop is an integral and mandatory part of the game structure. It is always dealt unless all players fold their hands during the pre-flop betting round, resulting in the pot being won before the flop is revealed.