All High Cards
An all high card flop is another dangerous flop for top pair or an over-pair. Your
hand is vulnerable to straights, sets, two pair, and straight draws. For example,
flops of AJT, KT9, and QT9 could all hit big hands for your opponents.
Top pair is especially vulnerable against several opponents playing the flop. You
may need to fold against a lot of action, unless you have some type of draw to a
straight also. If you hold a weak kicker, generally check if you are acting early to
see what happens behind you. If several players enter the pot or you must call a
raise cold, you should usually fold. If one player bets into you and there are still
several opponents to act behind you, you might also consider folding.
Whenever there are only one or two opponents playing the flop, your hand has a
better chance of holding up, especially if one of the players played from the blinds.
In these situations, you should probably go ahead and bet. If you are raised, then
make an evaluation of the player's hand and decide whether or not to proceed. If
nobody shows any strength and a rag comes on the turn, go ahead and bet again.
Generally fold if raised on the turn with these kinds of flops.
If you are acting last against one or two opponents, almost always bet out if it is
checked to you. If you are check-raised, consider folding against most typical
opponents. If you are heads up and an opponent bets into you, you have several
options depending on the type of opponent you are playing and their likely hand.
One option is to simply call to the river. Another option is to raise and then
determine your best move on the turn. You might even consider folding top pair
weak kicker against tight opponents with these types of flops.
NEXT...High Pair
