What board texture means
Board texture is the set of features that make one board strategically different from another.
At a broad level we can categorize boards as dry vs. wet and static vs. dynamic.
| Board type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dry | Few draws | On the board AsKc7d2h there are not many relevant draws. |
| Wet | Many draws | On the flop 9h8h6c there are many straight and flush draws. |
| Static | Strong hands likely to remain strong | On the flop As7d2h strong hands like AK are likely to remain strong on future streets. |
| Dynamic | Strong hands may become weak | On the flop Th2d2c strong hands like JJ are vulnerable to higher cards on future streets. |
Flop types
Flops are often categorized by suit, pairing, and connectivity.
By suit
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rainbow | All three cards are different suits | 9h7d2c |
| Two-tone | Two cards of one suit, one card of another | 9h7h2c |
| Monotone | All three cards are the same suit | 9h7h2h |
By pairing
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaired | All three cards are different ranks | As7d2h |
| Paired | Two cards of the same rank | As7d7h |
| Triplet | All three cards are the same rank | 7h7d7c |
By connectivity
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Connected | Flopped straights are possible | 9h8d7c |
| Gapped | Open-ended straight draws (OESDs) are possible | Th8d5c |
| Disconnected | Anything else | As7d2h |
Turns
Turn cards can preserve the flop texture, make the board more dynamic, or completely change which range has the strongest hands. A good turn analysis asks what the new card completes and how it affects the ranges of each player.
Common turn categories include:
- Blanks
- Overcards
- Straight-completing cards
- Flush-completing cards
- Pairing cards
Blank turns usually benefit the flop aggressor. If the flop bettor had a range or nut advantage, they often still have it on a blank.
Dynamic turns create more change. Overcards, flush-completing cards, straight-completing cards, and board pairs can change who has nut advantage and strengthen or weaken the ranges of each player.
Adjusting to board texture
Board texture in comparison with ranges is a key input for postflop strategy. If our opponent's range contains many draws, we may want to bet more aggresively than we would on a dry board.
In general, board texture plays a key role in how a hand progresses and how we should act in anticipation of future streets.
Common board texture mistakes
Beginners often:
- focus only on hand strength and ignore board texture.
- forget that a strong hand on the flop may be weak by the turn or river.
- bet too large on nut changing turns and rivers.