How To Utilize Board Texture in Texas Holdem
Remember; you're not the only one looking at the board. When looking at board texture in deciding whether to check, bet, raise, or fold, remember that your opponent is looking at the texture of the board, as well. If you raised from early position and the flop comes 789ddd, there's a high likelihood that you're not going to like that flop. Perceptive players will see that texture and be more willing to play back at you with drawing hands like K10o or KdJc than they would if the flop was AAQdd. Recognize when players may not believe your continuation bets or bluffs; you may see that the board is scary and worthy of a bluff, but if your opponent recognizes it as well, you're simply wasting chips.
Bluffable boards. The drier that the board is, the easier a continuation bet bluff will work. Paired boards, like 992 or 773 are wonderful for firing a continuation bet bluff; the board provides your opponent with little chance of improvement, and essentially turns the hand into, "Well, I thought I had the best hand preflop when I raised, so I better bet these tens again..." which can turn a hand like AJ into a profitable bluffing hand against hands like 44 or AQ on those boards. Another easily bluffable board is a high card and two non connecting low cards, like J62 or K84. You only have one big card to dodge in your opponent's hands, which makes it much less likely that they connected with this type of board, aside from a set.
Understanding turn texture. Let's take a hand like AK. You raise in early position and get flatted by the button. You flop broadway; QJ10 rainbow. You bet out, and get raised. You make a large three bet and get called. The turn is a queen, and you bet out. Your opponent shoves all-in for about three times your bet. Based on the texture of the board, your opponent really can't be making this shove without a full house. He raised you on the flop and you three bet. When he calls this then shoves into you on the turn, he can't be doing that with a straight; he thinks your turn bet is indicative of a strong hand still, so he can't think K9 and 98 are good, and he's supposed to be wary with AK, as well. If you call this bet, you're going to be shown 1010/JJ/QJ a large percentage of the time, probably 90-95% of the time. KQ and AK may still fire this shove, but not enough to make calling this bet on this wet board profitable.
Monster on board texture. If the board comes five flush or straightened, be very cautious about attempting to bluff or calling a big bet. If you raised preflop, then bet the flop and turn on a 4568 board, and a 7 comes on the river, the only hand you can really be expected to show up with that hit that river is 99; and if you're bet into, your opponent is going to show you a 9 half the time and a bluff half the time. This is a good bluff by your opponent; the way you played the hand, with the texture of the board as is, there are a scant few hands (really, only 1, unless you bet A9s with a flush draw twice) that give you the big straight. So, they can make a monster bet of double or triple the pot with a bluff or with a big straight, handcuffing you into chopping a lot or losing a monster a few times. Don't fall for that trap!
Bluffable boards. The drier that the board is, the easier a continuation bet bluff will work. Paired boards, like 992 or 773 are wonderful for firing a continuation bet bluff; the board provides your opponent with little chance of improvement, and essentially turns the hand into, "Well, I thought I had the best hand preflop when I raised, so I better bet these tens again..." which can turn a hand like AJ into a profitable bluffing hand against hands like 44 or AQ on those boards. Another easily bluffable board is a high card and two non connecting low cards, like J62 or K84. You only have one big card to dodge in your opponent's hands, which makes it much less likely that they connected with this type of board, aside from a set.
Understanding turn texture. Let's take a hand like AK. You raise in early position and get flatted by the button. You flop broadway; QJ10 rainbow. You bet out, and get raised. You make a large three bet and get called. The turn is a queen, and you bet out. Your opponent shoves all-in for about three times your bet. Based on the texture of the board, your opponent really can't be making this shove without a full house. He raised you on the flop and you three bet. When he calls this then shoves into you on the turn, he can't be doing that with a straight; he thinks your turn bet is indicative of a strong hand still, so he can't think K9 and 98 are good, and he's supposed to be wary with AK, as well. If you call this bet, you're going to be shown 1010/JJ/QJ a large percentage of the time, probably 90-95% of the time. KQ and AK may still fire this shove, but not enough to make calling this bet on this wet board profitable.
Monster on board texture. If the board comes five flush or straightened, be very cautious about attempting to bluff or calling a big bet. If you raised preflop, then bet the flop and turn on a 4568 board, and a 7 comes on the river, the only hand you can really be expected to show up with that hit that river is 99; and if you're bet into, your opponent is going to show you a 9 half the time and a bluff half the time. This is a good bluff by your opponent; the way you played the hand, with the texture of the board as is, there are a scant few hands (really, only 1, unless you bet A9s with a flush draw twice) that give you the big straight. So, they can make a monster bet of double or triple the pot with a bluff or with a big straight, handcuffing you into chopping a lot or losing a monster a few times. Don't fall for that trap!
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