When to call the flop with less than top pair

Gone are the days of online poker where you could simply fold every hand that didn't have something like top pair and still be profitable.

Playing with less than top pair can be bad when you don't have the initiative. You're playing a real guessing game as to whether or not you're beaten in the hand.

However, guessing can become easier when you pay attention and analyze some crucial factors.

1 – How strong is top pair against your opponent?

You have to study your opponent. Pay attention to how often he makes a continuation bet on the flop.

Notice how often he checks flops and the texture of the boards. Notice how often he double barrels (bets the turn).

Also notice how he controls the pot with hands that have showdown value.

If he always checks with hands that aren't top pair, bets only with top pair and bluffs on a :Jh :7s :3c board, you know that when he bets he is either with top pair or bluffing.

If that same opponent double barrels the turn, you will also know that when he bets the turn, he has top pair or better.

An interesting line of thinking is that you should be less inclined to call with weaker second pair hands if you know your opponent is likely to remain aggressive on the turn and river.

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2 – Board texture

One of the most important factors when deciding to call the flop with a second pair hand is the board texture.

There are some boards that are less likely to connect with your opponent's hand.

For example, :8s :7s will probably be better on a :Jh :8d :4s board than on a :Kh :2c :7c board. So you should be more inclined to call.

Knowing your opponent's preflop raising range will help you get a sense of how he may have connected with the board.

3 – Outs and equity

As with anything in Texas Hold'em you should consider calling when you have additional outs.

Outs add equity to your hand.

You hope your opponent will hang up his hand when you call, but you prefer to have equity if he continues his aggression.

An example:

Blinds $1/$2 in a 6-max cash game, effective stacks $200.

You are the BB and a regular player opens to $6. The flop comes :Qh :6s :3s. You check and your opponent bets $10.

Which hand would you rather call with? :8d :8c or :6h :7h?

Although the pocket eights are the best hand in absolute strength, the :6h :7h has better chances of improvement. It has more “plan B” potential.

When you are losing with 88 you will only have two outs, the two remaining eights in the deck. When you are losing with 67 you will have more outs.

There are two 6s and also three 7s left in the deck. That's five outs right off the bat. That's not counting the straight and flush backdoors that can come on the turn.

So the best hand to call is definitely :6h :7h, ignoring the fact that it has a lower absolute value than 88.

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Remember:

There is a lot of value in playing hands lower than top pair – especially against opponents who are C-BETting a lot.

Know your opponents and how they play certain hands, as well as how often they will barrel on the turn and river.

Just don't call the flop and fold on the turn every time. There's more to the game than that.

Pay attention to how the board develops and imagine how often the villain will apply the 2nd and 3rd barrel.

Folding every hand that isn't top pair is leaving money on the table. But by the same token, if you call every hand without a reason to do so, you're also burning money.

Just think about how your hand plays against your opponent's range and play real poker.

And remember: always think of plan B for your hand.

Article translated and adapted from the original: When to call the flop with less than top pair