Hand strength

In poker, your hand can become stronger or weaker as more cards are revealed. Let’s explain.

It’s the start of a new hand. You’re dealt a pair of Kings, the second best starting hand in Texas Hold’em. (A pair of Aces would be the best starting hand.)

At this point – unless somebody else has a pair of Aces – you can be pretty sure that you have the best hand at the table. Suddenly, it’s your turn – so you bet. Six other players call.

Now, the flop comes:

10♦ 7♥ A♣

Suddenly, you can’t be sure that you still have the best hand. You might do. But if another player holds an Ace (for example, if they were dealt a hand like A♦ J♣) that flop has just given them a pair of Aces.

They’re now beating you, unless you catch another Ling on the turn or the river.

With six other players still in the hand, the odds are that one of them has an ace.  If you were just up against one other player, you might be more confident.

Let’s look at another scenario. Imagine you’re dealt 8♦ 8♣. The flop comes:

8♥ J♠ A♠

You have three of a kind (a strong hand) and you decide to bet. Two other players call. Just as you’re thinking about raising again in the next round of betting, the turn card comes:

8♥ J♠ A♠ 5♠

Suddenly your confidence has taken a dip. Do you see why? With three spades on the board (and still another card to come) it’s possible that another player has a flush, which would beat your three of a kind.

Your three of a kind might still be the best hand, but you have to proceed with caution.

The strength of your hand can change at the turn of a card. That’s why you might see somebody betting strongly on the flop, but slowing down on the turn or the river.

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