Poker Tips from Bodog.com: Flop Texture After you watch your opponent's reactions to the flop as it is dealt you need to identify flop texture. Immediately figure out the best possible hand and where you stand in relation to the nuts. Watch out for connected, suited or paired flops. If there are draws out there and many opponents are still in the pot, you can count on them trying to draw out on you. If you have decided to continue, you will hold either a made hand or a drawing hand. This will combine with what's on the board to influence how you want to continue. With a made hand you want to play defense and raise as much as possible to get opponents off their draws. With a drawing hand you want to play offense, raising the value to build a pot that will be worth the risk when you make your draw. Remember, the best flops aren't always the ones that give you the nuts. If you hold A-J and three aces hit on the flop, you are going to get little or no action, even if someone tries to make a bluff at the pot. You want flops that will make hands for you that are hard for your opponents to identify. Straights are overlooked by opponents more often than flushes. Also, flops that make a lesser hand than you would have hoped for might actually pay off more. If you hold A-10, do you want a flop of A-4-2 or 10-7-3? Don't be so quick to jump on pairing your ace. The 10 with an ace kicker is much stronger than the Ace with a 10 kicker, due to the texture of the flop. If you get action on the ace-high flop, it's likely your out kicked and have the second best hand. Always use flop texture to help you identify and avoid the pitfalls of many hands.