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PTHow to Play Flop Poker
Poker is arguably the most popular card game enjoyed by millions of people in land-based and online poker rooms.
However, due to their complexity, inexperienced players tend to stay away from well-known poker games like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or Caribbean Stud.
That’s where flop poker enters the scene. This poker-style game is perfect for beginners looking to dip their toes into the famous game without extensive experience or skill. If you want to kick off your gambling adventure with flop poker, read this guide. We’ll walk you through the rules, payouts, and valuable tips to keep you on top of the game.
What Is Flop Poker?
Flop poker is a poker-style game first introduced in 2003. Although it’s not as popular as Texas Hold’em or Omaha, flop poker is popular in land-based casinos in the Southern states, primarily Mississippi and Missouri. However, poker enthusiasts will also find this title in some of the biggest gambling havens in the US — Borgata and Harrah’s casinos in Atlantic City.
The name stems from the method used to deal cards. Players receive individual (hole) cards and mix them with community cards to create a strong winning five-card hand. This stud-style game has a hybrid nature. You don’t play to beat the dealer’s hand; instead, you go against a fixed paytable as you try to land the highest-ranking hand. On top of that, players also compete against each other for a chance to win the pot wager.
Flop Poker: How To Play
Flop poker is beginner-friendly, meaning you don’t need extensive gambling experience to try your hand at this game. Here’s a list of rules to help you understand the basics:
Each player gets three face-down cards.
Three face-down community cards are dealt in front of the dealer for the flop.
Players that fold lose the ante wager, but their pot bet remains in play.
After everyone has taken appropriate action, the dealer turns the flop cards face-up.
Winners receive a payout according to the paytable.
The player with the highest-ranking hand also gets the entire pot wager pool
The pot wager doesn’t have a house edge as the money goes to the winner.
If two players have the same winning hand, they split the pot evenly.
Ante-Flop Payout Table
Flop poker has a fixed paytable that specifies how much each hand pays. The table below displays payouts from the lowest-ranking hand to the highest one. Check it out:
| Flop Poker Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Pair of Jacks | 1:1 |
| Two pairs | 2:1 |
| Three of a kind (three same-value cards) | 4:1 |
| Straight (cards are in a sequence but have different suits) | 11:1 |
| Flush (five cards of the same suit but not of sequential rank) | 20:1 |
| Full house (three cards of the same rank and a pair) | 30:1 |
| Four of a kind (four same-value cards) | 100:1 |
| Straight flush (five cards of the same suit in numerical order) | 500:1 |
| Royal flush (A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit) | 1000:1 |
| Anything else | Loss |
Best Flop Poker Strategy
Unlike other poker variants, flop poker doesn’t leave much room for strategizing, as the gameplay is fairly straightforward. The house edge always varies because you’re competing on two fronts — against the dealer/house and other players. The more players join the game, the fewer chances of winning the pot.
However, although a detailed strategy doesn’t exist, you should rely on several pointers to help you make the right decision. Here’s when you should raise in flop poker:
- When your cards include at least one Jack or higher
- When you have three-to-a-flush
- When you have any pair
- When you hold three-to-a-straight
- When three or more high cards are in your hand
- When you have one high card, and there is also one high card in the flop
Raising the bet in these instances is usually the right call. You should fold in any other situation. Remember, just because you folded doesn’t mean you lost everything — your pot wager is still in play.
Things to Keep in Mind While Playing Flop Poker
Once you learn the ropes, you’ll enjoy playing flop poker in a land-based casino or online poker room setting. If you’re just testing the waters and need more practice, the following tips will help you get the hang of the game and increase your chances of winning:
- The pot wager has no house or player edge.
- The more players join the game, the bigger the pot becomes. However, the chances of winning become slimmer.
- Participants can’t wager on more than one hand.
- You should always consider your hand’s potential before raising or folding.
- Don’t forget about other players’ hands — some might be stranger than yours.
- You might come into a position where you must let go of a good hand.
- You don’t need tremendous experience to play flop poker — beginners are more than welcome.
Final Thoughts
There you have it — a complete guide on flop poker. As you can see, the rules are simple to follow, and gameplay isn’t as complex as with more famous titles like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Three-Card Poker, Five-Card Draw, and others. You can play flop poker regardless of your experience with other games.
This game is a perfect opportunity to improve your skills and create a winning strategy to increase your odds. Follow this guide, come back to it whenever necessary, and enjoy!
