Texas Holdem: Flushes and Flush Draws

Flush Draws

Flushes

Playing a Flush

Playing Flush Draws

Interactive Tutorial

Playing a Flush Draw

Your Cards			The Board:

If you've been to the other pages here at Tilted Donkey, you will find this a familiar situation and you'll know it is all about outs and percentages.

Using The Magical Rule of Four we can come up with the fact that it is twenty percent to hit the flush on the next card, and thirty-five percent to hit it by the river.

Please review that section(Outs and the Magical Rule of Four)and its examples if you don't know how to work this out. It is easy and fun and a great party trick!

These percentages may remind you of something...open-ended straight draws! Drawing to a flush is very similar except:

• you have one more out (nine versus eight) when making the flush draw
• you are drawing to a stronger hand--a flush beats a straight
• a straight draw is easier to hide, everyone fears a flush when the third card of a suit falls

All the principles discussed in the sections on open-ended straight draws apply here. (Check them out if you haven't already)

Open Ended Straight Draws at the Flop

Open Ended Straight Draws at the Turn

 

Rules of Thumb for Playing Flush Draws

Rules of Thumb at the Flop

1) Always call with a flush draw if the flop is not paired.

The only exception would be when you are headsup with the minimum sized pot.

2) Raise if you have three or more callers.

The only exception would be if the board is paired making a fullhouse or fullhouse draw more likely. Then usually just call.

Rules of Thumb at the Turn

1) Always call.

Exceptions: if the board is paired, then it is a judgement call.

If the pot is less than four times the size of the call. For example, if the pot is $12 and it costs you $4 to call.

2) Never Raise.

The only exception would be if the board is not paired and you have greater than five callers.

 

Interactive Flush Tutorial