Playing Flush Draws on the Flop and Beyond

One of the largest money making hands in poker is the flush, because if you play it right it can be very deceptive. Also, since you will most likely make your flush on the turn or the river, the pot is already likely to be large so you can get great value out of the hand with a p pot sized bet on the river. The other situation that will often happen is that you miss your flush, and you need to know when you should take a stab at the pot, and when you should release your hand. Finally, we'll also discuss when it is not worth drawing out earlier based on pot and claimed odds.

Flopping a Flush Draw with Suited Cards

If you have two suits cards in your hand, your odds of floating a flush draw are only 10.9%, so when it happens you need to know exactly how to play it. The first factor that will go into your decision is if you raised or just called preflop. If you raised, I suggest betting out 1/2 to 3/4 of the pot. This will show your continued strength, and will also mask the fact that you have an unmade hand. If you just called, your action will be dependent on what your opponent does. If he bets out, you only want to call if the bet you face is less than or equal to 1/2 of the total pot. The reason for this is because you have a 2: 1 chance of making your flush on the turn or river. So, if the pot is $ 100, and your opponent bets out $ 100, that makes the total pot $ 200, and you face a $ 100 bet. In this situation, you should call. However, if he / she bets out $ 101 in this situation, the odds are no longer in your favor.

Flopping a Flush Draw with Unsuited Cards

If you flop a flush draw with unsuited cards, it is a totally different situation. In this case, the ideal card to have is the Ace of the suit that is on the board. If you have anything lower, you should play the hand very carefully, and not call any large bets because you are drawing out to the second nuts. If you have the Ace or King, I'd suggest calling a small bet, or betting out if no one has shown any strength. However, if you have the King or less, and someone else is in the pot, remember to be very careful, especially if the fourth card of the suit hits.

When you Make your Flush

If you hit the flush on the turn, I suggest playing it straightfoward. Make a bet of 1/2 to 3/4 the size of the pot, and if your opponent calls, you're in a really good position. If they raise, you're in an amazing position, especially if you have the nut flush. If they raise your bet, just call it, and make a large bet on the river.

Missing your Flush

If you miss the flush on the turn, and your opponent bets out a large amount, it is often smart to fold. Your odds at this point decrease significantly, so you should release the hand if the bet is anywhere near the pot size. If your opponent checks the turn after betting out the flop, you may want to consider firing out a bet, because they may be on the same draw as you.

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Source by Mike Wittmeyer