When to call the flop using less than Top pair

• 30.06.2025 8:08 pm
• Helen
• 0 Comments

Long ago in poker, you could easily fold anything that was not better than the top pair and still get profit.

Playing with little than no pair can be hard when you are not the leader.

You are guessing in your game and gambling that your opponent does not have your beat.

Your guessing game can be made simpler by giving attention to three important factors.

1.     Your opponent

You have to learn about your opponent. Pay attention to the times he c-bets on the flop.

Pay attention to the times he checks the flops and on what kinds of boards. Look at the times he double barrels the turn.

Look at how many times he plays the pot control using showdown value hands.

Always suss out your opponent.

If he checks back any non-top-pair hands, only the bet top pair and bluffs are on  a board, you will know when he is betting if he has a bluff or a top pair.

If the same opponent rarely double barrels the turn, you will recognize that when he bets the same turn, he has a top pair or something better than that.

A common rule is that you should not call many times with a second -pair- type hand that is too weak.

2.     Board texture

The board texture is one of the most important factors when deciding to peel the turn using a second-pair-type hand.

There are some of the boards that are not expected to hit your opponent.

Example, is probably good on a board than it is on a board. Therefore you should be more inclined to call.

Know your opponent's pre-flop raising range and each time you encounter a bet gauge how possible it is to have hit his range.

3.     Equity and outs

Just like in Texas Hold’em you should tend to call only if you have extra outs.

Outs add equity to your hand.

You are hoping that your opponent will settle down the moment you call, but you want to have the equity for fear that he might continue.

An example of this is:

You are playing $1 or $2 online six-max, effective stacks $200.

You are in the big blind and a straight regular raises to $6, the flop comes . You check and your opponent bets $10.

Which hand will you call with: or ?

Although the pair of eights seem to be the better hand, is the better one to peel with. The main reason is that has a lot of other options.

When your opponents beat you with the pair of eights, you have two outs to make better-the two eights that are remaining. You will have more outs if you are beat with the .

You have two sixes and also the three remaining sevens.

You have also got the backdoor flush and the straight draws, which mean that there are a lot of cards that can make your hand better on the turn.

Do no just call and surrender on the turn

The good hand to call with is -regardless of it being worse in absolute value than

Always remember that;

There is so much value in playing hands worse than the top pair-particularly if you are playing against opponents who c-bet often.

Study how your opponent plays specific hands and give all your attention to whoever often barrel.

Do not call and then surrender on the turn each time.

Give much attention to how the board runs out and weigh it with how probable they are to double or to triple barrel

Folding every single hand that is not a top pair is basically leaving money on the table. However, if you begin to call every hand without having a second thought, you will burn even more money.

Give a second thought to how your hand stack up in opposition to your opponent’s range and play poker.

Always remember that potential plan B makes it possible for you to add equity to your hand.