| Good Hold'em players can 'Read the Board', and they
know what hands might be lurking out there at the table
ready to show themselves and take the pot. They also know
what hands can not be possible, and so they know not
to worry defending against them.
How can you tell what hands are possible, and what
ones are not? Here are some simple guidelines to get you
started.
- Pairs on the Board - if there are a pair of
cards on the board, someone may have a Four-of-a-Kind.
If there are no pairs on the board, no one can have a
Four-of-a-Kind. Pairs on the board also make a Full
House possible. Both of these hands are very strong,
so when the board pairs pay attention. Someone may be
holding a monstor hand.
- Three of a Suit - is what is necessary for a
flush. Sometimes when the suited community cards are not
particularly impressive, say 2-7-9 of clubs, it becomes
easy to overlook the potential flush in your opponents
hands.
- Sequence Cards - the cards that make a
straight possible. If the cards on the board only have
two 'holes' in a string of five consecutive cards,
someone may be holding those cards and just may have
that straight. So, when cards like 9-J-Q show themselves
on the board, beware that an opponent may be holding the
'missing' 10-K in their hand.
Of course you know what cards are in your hand, and that
can help you deduce what cards your opponents may
have.
| Reading the
Board |
- The board shows K♦-K♠-9♥-2♣-6♣
- You have: A♣-K♣ in your hand
|
Is there a pair on the
board?
- Yes. Both a Four-of-a-Kind and a Full House are
possible
Are there three suited cards on the board?
- No. A Flush is not possible.
Are there three Sequence Cards on the board?
- No. A straight is not possible.
Can you use your cards to rule out possible
hands?
- Yes. Since you have one of the K, no one can have
Four-of-a-Kind this hand.
Conclusion
- Because of the pair on the board, Full Houses are
possible.
Your opponent would need to have K♥
and either a 9,6, or 2 in their hand
to complete the Full House. Or, they may have 2-2,
9-9, or 6-6 and complete the full house in that
manner. |
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