“ Post flop The term 'Postflop' in No Limit Hold'em encompasses all the choices players confront following the unveiling of the flop. flop This terminology helps us distinguish it from 'preflop' actions, which pertain to the initial stages before any community cards are dealt. action that takes place before any community cards are dealt.
Postflop play is undeniably a critical component of No Limit Hold'em, as it’s during this phase that most significant actions unfold and players gather the most information. Achieving proficiency in postflop strategies demands targeted studies and hands-on experience.
While mastering postflop techniques may take time, we can quickly enhance our understanding by examining essential strategic concepts.
In this section, we will discuss our top 10 tips for postflop gameplay in No Limit Hold'em.
1. Estimate the ideal pot-size.
2. Utilize position effectively.
3. Consider effective stacks.
4. Understand basic drawing strategy.
5. Recognize villain weakness.
6. Recognize villain strength.
7. Value bet effectively.
8. Plan hands from the flop.
9. Incorporate stats/reads.
10. Cultivate a strong mindset.
TIP 1: ESTIMATE THE IDEAL POT-SIZE
This straightforward yet powerful idea has been a consistent source of profit for poker enthusiasts throughout the years.
Big Hands = Big pots
If we foresee a situation where we’ll hold a very strong hand by the river, our strategy should aim to maximize the pot size. Conversely, if it seems we will only complete a weaker hand by the river, it makes sense to keep the pot at a manageable size.
Ignoring this fundamental advice can lead to several issues:
1. Finding it hard to maximize value when holding premium hands.
2. Losing an excessive number of chips with moderately strong hands.
When facing a flop, it's worthwhile to pause and reflect on what hands we are likely to develop by the time we reach the river. Utilizing checks and calls helps maintain a smaller pot, while betting and raising increases its size.
It’s important to remember that we don't always need a strong made hand to start building the pot; we just need to have the potential to create one by the river. This can include hands like a nut flush draw, which could lead to a sizeable payout if we hit. backdoor Missing draw opportunities isn’t a serious concern; we can turn these hands into bluffs on the river. In fact, it can be more advantageous to have a big pot while holding air than with a mid-range made hand.
Position plays a crucial role in poker strategy. The player acting from a position of advantage has more insights into their opponents' moves and can control the pot size better (which relates to tip number 1). There's a well-known saying in poker that states –
TIP 2: UTILISE POSITION EFFECTIVELY
However, the overly broad nature of this saying can lead to misunderstandings. For instance, it has misled players to adopt absurdly tight defensive strategies from the blinds. The objective is not to entirely avoid playing out of position but to realistically gauge how it impacts our strategy during postflop play.
Out of Position = Out of the Action
Generally, we should play more conservatively when out of position (OOP) and fold more frequently. This doesn't mean we should play passively, as we will still maintain a reasonable level of aggression when the situation calls for it, but we'll be more selective about the hands to continue with.
Any hand that barely qualifies while in position (IP) should largely be discarded when out of position. As a rule of thumb, it’s often better to make a slightly tighter fold when OOP on the flop than to try to 'hang in there' and risk significant losses on later streets.
Early in the hand, we want to assess whether we feel 'committed' to the pot. Here, being 'committed' means evaluating if our hand strength justifies putting all our chips in.
TIP 3: CONSIDER EFFECTIVE STACKS
Making commitment-related choices must be weighed against the current state of the game. This is why it's challenging to respond to broad postflop inquiries like 'Should I fold top pair with a top kicker postflop?'. With shallower stacks, committing can be beneficial, but deeper stacks might present us with folding options.
Naturally, commitment decisions also depend on various other factors, but skilled players learn which hands are appropriate for all-in situations based on the effective stack sizes. For instance - effective stacks Don't fold a top pair when effective stacks are 25bb or lower.
Don't fold an overpair when effective stacks are 40bb or lower.
Don't fold a set when effective stacks are 100bb or lower.
These guidelines are quite rough and may not be applicable in every circumstance. It's essential to consider your opponent, their range, and the board texture. The stack-to-pot ratios (SPR) can also be useful to analyze, depending on the specific situation.
Ultimately, understanding effective stacks is vital for pinpointing the most effective postflop course of action.
TIP 4: GRASP THE FUNDAMENTALS OF DRAW STRATEGY
Effectively playing drawing hands postflop is crucial for improving our win rate. However, many players often misunderstand how to approach draw strategies. You’ll often hear advice to 'always play draws aggressively.' But without the right context, this can lead players into making errors in situations where aggressive play isn't suitable.
As a general rule, it makes sense to play drawing hands more aggressively. They are fantastic for semi-bluffing because if our opponent doesn't fold, we still have a chance to hit our hand and take advantage of a healthier pot. Acting aggressively with our draws ensures we can accumulate a larger pot (as previously noted in tip 1).
However, achieving a complete understanding requires recognizing when 'aggressive play with draws' does not apply. Remember, a draw is not typically the strongest hand. For instance, if we possess an unpaired straight draw, we are essentially behind any paired hand our opponent may have.
Why would we want to inflate the pot if we're likely behind in terms of equity? Because there's always a chance our opponent may fold. The prospect of winning the pot uncontested is the primary motivation behind playing our draws with aggression.
It's logical to conclude that if our opponent is never (or almost never) folding, we should avoid playing our draws aggressively. In such cases, we would just be throwing chips into the pot while trailing. underdog What scenarios might lead to us not expecting our opponent to fold?
2. Our opponent has a strong range based on their actions.
In these situations, the best approach is to play draws passively in line with our pot odds and implied odds. Only once we hit our draw should we attempt to bolster the pot size as quickly as possible.
Tips 5 and 6 both revolve around understanding our opponent’s range and adjusting our strategy accordingly. To further explore this aspect, we’ve divided the ranging process into two key areas.
1. Our opponent is calling station.
Identifying opponent strength and recognizing opponent weakness.
Even in relatively easy games, bluffing is more pivotal than most players realize. It's quite straightforward to misjudge bluff opportunities and end up losing money, but accurately spotting optimal bluffing circumstances can significantly enhance our win rate.
TIP 5: RECOGNISE VILLAIN WEAKNESS
The secret lies in identifying moments when our opponent likely has a weak range. So, is there an easy method for this? Absolutely, be on the lookout for the following.
3. Whenever our opponent just calls on a board that suggests draws.
In cases where our opponent follows this pattern, we often come across excellent opportunities for bluffing. Many such situations are so profitable that we can even bluff with hands that have zero equity.
Regarding point 2, our opponent skipping a continuation bet can happen at any stage, whether they are IP or OOP. As a general principle, players who flop strong hands tend to lead with continuation bets. If called, they often follow up by betting on the turn and river.
1. Any time our opponent checks twice.
2. Any time our opponent misses a continuation bet as the aggressor.
Any deviation from this norm indicates that our opponent might not be as strong as they claim. Naturally, some players may attempt tricky plays by not betting, but for the most part, failing to follow through with a c-bet signals weakness.
In certain aspects, discerning an opponent's strength may outweigh identifying their weaknesses, especially in softer games. Given that the average player doesn’t bluff as often as they should, we are sometimes able to make tightly-folded decisions when holding made hands.
Against opponents who are strong (and bluff at appropriate frequencies), we need to be cautious about folding when they represent strength. However, against weaker players (who seldom bluff), we can afford to fold more liberally.
Certain lines are bluffed less frequently than others. If our opponent employs one of these strategies, it strongly suggests they hold a premium hand, and we should consider folding unless we possess an equally strong hand. slowplay Here are some common lines that indicate strength:
TIP 6: RECOGNISE VILLIAN STRENGTH
- Any instance of a triple barrel, which means betting on the flop, turn, and river (excluding small bets, etc.) poker All of these strategies signify substantial strength and should be met with extreme caution.
As a general rule of thumb, we can implement the following steps: bluffcatch 1. Assess what the weakest value hand might be for the opponent when they follow such a line (hint: it will be a robust hand).
2. Discard any hand that fails to at least beat the weakest holding in their value range.
The exception here is solid drawing hands that, while behind, might offer the right pot odds or implied odds to make the call. Re-raising with a draw when facing an aggressive line isn't advisable since it's exceedingly unlikely that the opponent would fold. represent strength -
Commonly, misapplying the 'always play draws aggressively' advice leads to re-raising in situations that signal extreme strength.
- Any river raise (2bet)
- Any turn raise (2bet)
- Any flop re-raise (3bet)
There are other lines that should be approached with caution, but they don't necessarily represent the same high level of strength.
- Preflop limp-raises - Very often holdings like Aces or Kings, though other hands can be included according to analysis.
In Hold'em poker, discussions about postflop gameplay encompass all choices made after the flop cards are revealed. Discover how you can elevate your skills in postflop situations by implementing these ten practical tips.
Here are the key 10 strategies for postflop play in No Limit Hold'em that you should know.
This list outlines the top 10 strategic insights for navigating postflop scenarios in No Limit Hold'em.
The term 'postflop' in No Limit Hold'em indicates the decision-making process that occurs once the community cards are displayed.
This definition is important as it distinguishes postflop actions from preflop actions, which take place before any community cards are shown.
Postflop play is undeniably a crucial component of No Limit Hold'em, representing the bulk of the game's action. This stage offers players significant opportunities to gain insights into their opponents' behaviors and holdings, and mastering postflop play requires both deliberate practice and actual gameplay experience.
While becoming proficient in postflop strategies may demand time, you can accelerate your understanding by exploring some foundational strategic advice.
In this section, we will delve into our top 10 strategies for excelling in postflop play within No Limit Hold'em.
TIP 7: VALUE BET EFFECTIVELY
This straightforward and effective concept has been generating profit for poker players over the years.
If we anticipate having a very strong hand by the river, it is wise to play for larger amounts. Conversely, if it's more likely that we will have a weaker hand, it’s better to manage the pot size accordingly, keeping it smaller.
Neglecting this guidance can lead to the following outcomes -
2. Adjusting to specific opponents.
3. Adjusting to board runouts.
1. Struggling to maximize profits from strong hands.
2. Losing excessive chips with hands of moderate strength.
- During our next flop, we should take a moment to evaluate which hands we are likely to develop by the time we reach the river. Using checks and calls can help maintain a controlled pot size, while aggressive betting and raising can inflate it.
Here is the rough guide -
It's important to realize that we don't always need a solid made hand to start building the pot; even having the potential to create a strong hand by the river is sufficient. This includes situations where we possess nut flush draws or similar opportunities. If we hit these draws, we can enjoy a substantial pot.
It's perfectly acceptable for our draws to occasionally miss, as we can utilize such instances as bluffing opportunities on the river. In certain situations, it's actually preferable to be in a significant pot without a made hand than to be stuck with a mediocre one.
Position plays a crucial role in poker strategy. The player in position has access to more information and has greater control over the pot size (which ties back to tip 1). A popular saying in poker states -
Because this saying is quite broad, it can often be misinterpreted. This misunderstanding can result in players adopting overly conservative strategies when defending their blinds. The objective is not to completely avoid playing out of position but to have a realistic assessment of how position influences our approach in postflop situations.
- Adjusting to specific opponents.
As a basic guideline, we should adopt a tighter playing style when out of position (OOP), leading to more frequent folds. However, this doesn’t mean we have to play passively; we can still exhibit aggression where it matters, though we should be more selective with the cards we choose to continue with. overbet (>100% pot) sizings.
Any hand that barely qualifies for play while in position (IP) should often be discarded when out of position. Generally, it's preferable to make a disciplined fold out of position than to try to 'hang in there' only to be left in a tough spot on the subsequent street.
- Adjusting to board runouts.
At the outset of a hand, we should typically decide whether we feel 'committed.' 'Committed' here means assessing if our hand is sufficient to justify risking all our chips.
These commitment decisions must be balanced against the dynamics of the board and opponent actions. This nuance makes it challenging to respond to broad questions like 'Should I fold top-pair-top-kicker post flop?' With shallower stack sizes, committing becomes more feasible, whereas deeper stacks might present folding opportunities. - Commitment decisions also rely on variables beyond our hand strength, but adept players develop an intuitive sense of which hands can merit an all-in for various effective stack sizes. For example -
Do not fold top pairs when effective stacks are 25bb or fewer.
Do not let go of overpairs when effective stacks measure 40bb or less.
TIP 8: PLAN HANDS FROM THE FLOP
Do not toss away sets when effective stacks are 100bb or below.
These serve as general guidelines and are not universally applicable. We must always factor in our opponents’ tendencies, their potential hand ranges, and the overall texture of the board. Sometimes, considering the stack-to-pot ratio (SPR) might provide a better perspective than just looking at the effective stacks.
Regardless of the situation, understanding the effective stacks is crucial to making the right decisions postflop.
Imagine the following -
Board: 9d6h2h
Hand: JdTd
TIP 4: GRASP THE FUNDAMENTALS OF DRAW STRATEGY
Mastering the play of drawing hands after the flop is essential for achieving a profitable win rate. Despite this, many players find themselves perplexed by draw strategies. It's not uncommon to hear the advice to 'always play draws aggressively.' Yet, without proper context, this suggestion can lead to costly errors when it doesn't apply.
In general, being aggressive with draw hands is often justified. They can serve as effective semi-bluffs; even if an opponent doesn’t fold, hitting our draw can lead to significant payouts. Plus, playing draws aggressively allows for larger pots when we do connect (refer to tip 1).
To fully grasp this concept, it’s essential to recognize scenarios where the advice to play draws aggressively does not hold true. Remember, a draw is typically not the strongest hand . For example, if we have an unpaired straight draw, we're actually behind any pairs our opponent might hold.
Why would we want to raise the pot when we are almost certainly at a disadvantage? The only reason is the chance that our opponent might fold. The potential to occasionally take down the pot without contest is why we choose to be aggressive with our draws.
Thus, it stands to reason that if our opponent is extremely unlikely to fold, we should refrain from playing our draws aggressively. We would merely be throwing chips into the pot while behind.
TIP 9: INCORPORATE STATS/READS
What types of situations might yield zero chance of our opponent folding?
2. Your opponent's actions suggest a strong holding.
TIP 10: CULTIVATE A STRONG MINDSET
In such cases, the best approach is to adopt a passive stance with draws based on the pot odds and implied odds available. Only after connecting with our draw should we aim to build the pot as quickly as we can.
Tips 5 and 6 focus on effectively reading our opponents’ ranges and reacting appropriately. For a deeper understanding, we categorize the ranging process into two key aspects.
We are mental athletes.
Identifying opponent strength and pinpointing their weaknesses.
Even in games that might seem soft, the importance of bluffing is often underestimated by the average player. While it can be quite easy to bluff in inappropriate situations that end up costing money, recognizing favorable bluffing chances can significantly enhance our win rate.
The essence is to spot situations where an opponent genuinely holds a weakened range. So, is there a straightforward way to identify these scenarios? Definitely! Watch for the following.
POST FLOP SUMMARY
3. Whenever an opponent just calls on a board that's conducive to draws.
Whenever an opponent takes one of these lines, we often encounter favorable bluffing scenarios. Many of these situations are so advantageous that we can even bluff with hands that hold zero equity.
