Flop play is very important in No Limit Texas Hold'em. The key is to find the relative strength of your hand. Over time, it is important to develop the ability to release good hands when you think they are second best. Determine your relative strength and release hands that face a real risk of being second-best. Betting is the natural move when you want to protect a good hand from being outdrawn or when you are presented with the chance to make your opponents fold. The flop is the time to "pump it or dump it". It is extremely important that you always evaluate the relative strength of your hand on the flop when playing at online poker sites.

Typical Flop Situations


Here are four typical situations on the flop at online poker sites:

Very Strong Hand (top two-pair, set)



• Often slow-play if the board is uncoordinated so you lure opponents in, induce bluffs or let them make second-best hands.



• If the board is coordinated and several are in, over-bet the pot so they have to pay for trying to outdraw you. The bigger the bet they call, the bigger their mistake. This is how you make money in poker: let other players pay for chasing you. 
Strong Hand (over-pair, top-pair with A kicker, etc.)



• Bet about the size of the pot in order to protect it (for example, pushing out over cards and making draws pay).



• You may have to release this hand when facing an over-bet or raise because someone may well have a bigger over pair, a set, or connectors that hit the flop for a two-pair. You should not back any top-pair with your whole stack! 



• If you bet and get called in several spots you have to decide whether your hand is the best because it is unlikely that all of the other players are drawing. 
Medium Hand (top-pair with a weak kicker, middle-pair with A kicker, second pocket- pair, etc.)



• Most of the time, avoid betting this hand when in early position, facing several opponents, or against tricky players who slow-play frequently. Try to get a free card to hit one of your pocket cards on the turn or call/raise an opponent who bets from last position.



• If you are in late position and it is checked to you, bet.



• If you are facing a bet or raise, fold. You have no initiative and are probably chasing few outs.


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