Easy Post-Flop Exercises

Qs Qd -- Early Position

You raised pre-flop and were called by two late-position players. The flop was Ac Ks 4c. You bet out on the flop. One player raises and the other calls. What factors do you consider?

• Cards: The flop was an absolute nightmare for you . If either of your opponents holds either and ace or a king, you're way behind.
• Action: Your opponent's raise indicates strength. The call from the other player may indicated a flush draw.
• Odds: You will hit a 3rd Queen on the turn about 1 out of every 23 times. If that doesn't sound bad enough, the Qc may give someone a flush. The pot odds are not sufficient for you to call and see the turn.

Your move: Fold. Laying down QQ is never fun, but throwing money at this pot is a terrible idea.

Note: the bet on the flop may or may not be a something you'd want to do. The bet has two advantages. One, it gives your opponents a chance to fold if the flop missed them. Second, it get you very accurate information. Now you know you're in terrible shape. However, given the board a check-fold might be a good decision.

Ad Ks -- Late Position

You raised pre-flop and were called by both blinds. The flop was Kd 7c 4h. The small blind bet and the big blind folded. What factors do you need to consider?

• Cards: The flop is excellent. You have top-pair, top-kicker, and there are flush draws and only one straight draw on board. You have to think you have the best hand.
• Action: The bet from the small blind could indicate a weak King. Or it may mean nothing much at all.

Your move: Raise. You're almost certainly ahead, and you want to get money in the pot while you're winning.

9h Th -- Late Position
You limped with 4 other players to see a flop of Ah Js 4h. An early position player bets and all fold to you. What factors do you consider.

• Cards: Given the nature of the board, you can be pretty certain that you are behind. But you've flopped a nice flush draw.
• Action: The early position bet likely indicates that the early position player has an Ace.
• Odds: It's going to cost you $1 to see the turn. Pre-flop $4 went into the pot,and the early-position player's bet ads another $1, for a total of $5. You are roughly a 4:1 underdog to hit your flush on the turn. This means that you're getting proper pot odds to draw for the flush.

Your move: Call. Trying to hit that flush has a positive expectation with that much money in the pot.


A-T -- Big blind
This is the same situation the one of the previous page, but reversed. Two limpers, the small blind, and you see the flop. The flop is Ah Js 4h. What factors do you consider?

• Cards. You have top pair with a pretty good kicker. Not bad.
• Action. There was no pre-flop aggression. You have to think you have the best hand.
• Odds. You're ahead here. You want to push the advantage.