The ‘flop’ is what we call it when the first three community cards are dealt face up on the poker table. It also refers to those three cards themselves.
What is the flop in poker?
In poker, the “flop” refers to the first three community cards that are dealt face-up in the center of the table. These cards are part of the community cards used by all players to make their best possible hand.
Here’s how a typical Texas Hold’em poker hand progresses to the flop:
Hole Cards: At the beginning of the hand, each player is dealt two private cards face down. These are known as “hole cards.”
Betting Round 1 (Pre-Flop): Players evaluate their hole cards and decide whether to bet, raise, call, or fold based on the strength of their hands.
The Flop: After the first betting round, three community cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table. This is known as the “flop.” These cards are shared by all players and can be used in combination with their hole cards to form the best possible hand.
Betting Round 2 (Post-Flop): Another round of betting occurs after the flop. Players assess the strength of their hands considering their hole cards and the three community cards on the flop.
The Turn and The River: After the second betting round, a fourth community card, known as the “turn,” is dealt face-up on the table, followed by a third betting round. Then, a fifth and final community card, called the “river,” is dealt, followed by the last betting round.
Showdown: If there are two or more players remaining after the final betting round, a showdown occurs. Players reveal their hole cards, and the best five-card hand is determined using a combination of hole cards and community cards. The player with the best hand wins the pot.
The flop is a crucial moment in a poker hand, as it significantly influences the potential hands that players can form and often determines the course of the rest of the hand. Players use the information from the flop to make strategic decisions about whether to bet, raise, call, or fold in the subsequent betting rounds.