Flop

Definition

The flop is the second stage of a Texas Hold'em hand. After pre-flop betting ends, the dealer places three cards face-up in the center of the table — these are called community cards, meaning every player still in the hand can use them. The flop dramatically changes the hand: a player who was behind before the flop can suddenly be way ahead, and vice versa. After the flop is revealed, there's another round of betting.

Example

You raised pre-flop with K♠ Q♠ and one player called. The dealer burns a card (sets one face-down aside, per standard procedure) and then reveals the flop: K♥ Q♦ 7♣. You've hit two pair — kings and queens — which is a very strong hand. Your opponent acts first and checks (declines to bet). It's now your turn: you can check back to keep the pot small, or bet to build the pot with your strong hand. Most experienced players would bet here, known as a continuation bet or c-bet. The flop is where many hands are decided.

Why It Matters

The flop is often called the most important street in poker because it gives you 60% of the final board (three out of five community cards) all at once. Your hand's strength can swing dramatically on the flop, and how you respond sets the tone for the rest of the hand. As a beginner, the most important skill to develop on the flop is honest hand evaluation: did this flop actually help your hand, or are you just hoping it did? Learning to accurately assess your flop strength — and adjust accordingly — will save you a lot of chips.