Lesson 6: Texture Of The Flop

Once you have determined the FIT of the flop you must evaluate the flop texture. Evaluating the texture is key to understanding the potential strength of your opponent's hand. The texture of the flop generally fits into three categories:

Coordinated Flop--A coordinated flop is any flop that make a straight, flush, or full house posssible on the flop.

Semi-Coordinated Flop--A semi-coordinated flop is any flop that meets one or more of the following criteria:
  • The flop contains two cards ten or higher. Since most players will play cards ten or higher, the likelyhood that this flop hit your opponent's hand increases.
  • The flop contains two cards within one gap of each other. For example, if the flop contains a 98 or a 97, this makes straight draws more probable.
  • The flop contains two cards of the same suite. This one is the easiest to see--flush draws are a concern here.
Uncoordinated Flop--An uncoordinated flop is any flop that does not meet any of the above criteria. For example, a flop of Q♥ 7♦ 3♣ is an uncoordinated flop. There is only one card ten or over, no cards within 1 gap of each others, and no matching suits. These are the flops you want to see, especially when you think you are ahead in the hand.
You will also run into situations where the flop meets the criteria for a semi-coordinated flop but is still low risk like an uncoordinated flop. For example, if the flop comes 8♥ 7♦ 2♣, this flop meets the criteria of a semi-coordinated flop. But if you are up against a tight player who typically plays face cards and big pairs (more on this in player profiling), it is unlikely they hit this flop. So you can play it like an uncoordinated flop. However, if you are playing with a loose player (someone who plays many starting hands), this is the type of flop that is very dangerous against that type of player. So proceed as a semi-coordinated flop.
Examples of Flops:
Q♥ K♦ 3♦ This flop meets all three criteria for a semi-coordinated.
Q♥ K♦ 3♣ This flop meets two of the semi-coordinated flop criteria.
A♥ 7♦ 3♣ This flop is deceptive, but meets the 1-gap straight criteria.
Q♥ K♥ T♥ Obviously a very dangerous coordinated flop.
8♥ 7♦ 7♣ Also coordinated but less likely to have hit a "tight" player.