Okay, great. The dealer has dealt you your private cards, and they are strong enough, or you find the day’s stars good enough, to call or raise in the pre-flop round. And now the three community cards have been dealt, face up, on the table. You gaze at the community cards, and you look at your private cards. What should you do?

Fight or flight? Bet / raise, or fold?

There is a subtle difference in what your strategy should be when the game is shorthand (fewer than seven players at the table), versus when it is longhand. The strategies learnt in the former games come in handy when you are playing with ten or more people, and are on the road to becoming a pro yourself.

What you have, at the post flop stage, is the full hand of five cards – three lying on the table, and two in your hands. Broadly speaking, you are facing one of these situations, and here’s what you should be doing:

• You are in a dominating position. The combination of the five cards is such that you have three cards of a kind. For example, your pocket cards were a 10 and Q . The community cards yielded a 10, a 10 and a 4. This “could” technically give you a commanding edge, unless somebody has a full house. For that somebody to have a full house, they would have something like a 10 and 4 in their pocket. The odds are heavily against it, but it can happen. Your move? Raise and raise and raise. To the extent that your bank roll allows and others continue to call.

In fact, your best strategy with a strong pocket card set is to raise, very aggressively, in the pre-flop round itself. This ensures that players with weak cards fold immediately, and do not attempt to try their luck with any flop combination increasing their strength.

• You have a hand that may be termed second-best. For instance, the community flop comes K Q 9, and your pocket cards show A Q. Now, the possibility that somebody amongst the crowd has a pair of pocket cards that says A and K is decently high. So, bet with caution!

There is another interesting instance where your second-best position’s vulnerability can be your Achilles’ heel. Let’s say that you hold A K in your pocket. The board shows A Q Q. You think you have a winner, don’t you? Well, think again. Especially if you are in august company. It is quite possible that somebody holds a A Q. The winning hand - A A Q Q Q - will be somebody else’s!

• There are combinations where your position vis-à-vis the dealer becomes important. For instance, you have a single pair of faces – say the community cards are a J 10 7. Your pocket cards are Q Q. The ideal situation is for you to jam the pot and knock people out. If you are in an early position, then you fervently hope that somebody bets and raises. If in a late position, you fervently hope that somebody bets. If no one does, you must bet in order to knock people out.
• Your pocket cards are weak in the first place. For instance, you happen to be holding a 5 5. The three cards spread out there show K J 10. There is really nothing you can do in this case, as it is most certain, especially if there is a sizeable number of players still in the game, of others holding much, much stronger cards than you do. Your option: Fold. Quick.

On the other hand, if the three cards show 5 5 A, then you have a Quad, and gives you the hope that the turn card or the river card might put you on the podium. Perhaps you should bide your time and call or check. That will keep you in the reckoning for the next round – other factors being equal, of course.

• You had raised in the pre-flop stage, and in the eyes of the opponents, you apparently are in a position of strength. So they are extra-cautious in the post-flop stage now. In case of a heads up, this situation can become quite amusing. For instance, say you have Q J as your pocket cards, and the board shows A 8 4. Because you had raised in the earlier round, your opponent simply checks. This is a sure sign that they are as weak as, or probably weaker than you are! Your move? Bet! Bluff your way! Make the other party fold! Grab the pot!
• A flush situation is quite interesting, too. Suppose your cards in the hole are K Q. The flop dealt on the table is A 8 2. This takes you to a flush draw – and a pretty good chance to swing things at your way in the turn or river card stage. Of course, that is where your gut feeling of how good your day is, comes into the picture.
• A potential Straight flush situation can be nerve-racking, especially if you happen to have good, but not very-good combination. For instance, say a 4 5 6 is laid on the table. Unless you have a very-good combination, it is entirely possible that some smart aleck has a 2 3 with them. What should you do? Let your gut feeling decide!

There are many such situations that you can work upon in your mind before sitting down to play with real money. So, what is the bottom line to designing a flop strategy? First, the moment the three cards are dealt face up, arrive at your absolute strength. See for yourself where you stand in terms of power of the cards. Next, take a look around the competition and gauge their reactions to their respective combinations. Are there any tell signs coming from the guys and gals sitting next to you that hint at what is going in their mind? Can you bluff or semi-bluff your way, despite an apparently not so strong hand? 

Whatever your decision is, remember that it is just a game after all! So, enjoy it while you can …