Understanding Board Texture
Board texture refers to the characteristics of the community cards and how they interact with possible hand ranges. Reading board texture correctly is fundamental to making good postflop decisions.
Boards are typically classified along two dimensions: wet vs dry (how many draws are possible) and static vs dynamic (how likely the best hand will change).
Dry Boards
Dry boards have few draws and don't connect well with most hands. Examples include:
- K-7-2 rainbow: The classic dry board - no straights, no flushes
- A-8-3 rainbow: High card with disconnected low cards
- Q-7-2 two-tone: Still relatively dry despite the flush draw
Strategy on dry boards:
- C-bet frequently with a small sizing (25-33% pot)
- Hand values are more stable - top pair is often good enough
- Bluffing is effective since opponents rarely have strong hands
- Slow-playing strong hands can be profitable
Wet Boards
Wet boards have many possible draws and connect with wide ranges:
- J-T-9 two-tone: Straight draws, flush draws, two-pair possibilities
- 8-7-6 with flush draw: Anyone could have a piece
- Q-J-T rainbow: Straight-heavy board
Strategy on wet boards:
- Be more selective with c-bets - check more often
- Use larger sizing when you do bet (66-75% pot)
- Protect your strong hands - don't slow-play
- Be prepared to face check-raises
On wet boards, the equity distribution is more spread out - everyone has a piece of something. On dry boards, equity is polarized between strong made hands and complete air.
Static vs Dynamic Boards
This dimension considers how the board will change on future streets:
| Board Type | Characteristics | Example | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static | Turn/river unlikely to change hand rankings | K-K-7, A-8-2 rainbow | Can slow-play, bet for thin value |
| Dynamic | Many cards will change the nuts | 9-8-7 two-tone | Protect hands, bet bigger |
Range Advantage and Board Texture
Different boards favor different positions based on preflop ranges:
Boards favoring the preflop raiser:
- High card boards (A-K-x, K-Q-x)
- Paired boards (often)
- Dry, disconnected boards
Boards favoring the caller:
- Low connected boards (7-6-5, 8-7-4)
- Middle card boards (9-8-6, T-7-6)
- Boards with many two-pair combinations
Adjusting Your Strategy
Here's how to adjust based on board texture:
- Dry board + Range advantage: Small bets, high frequency
- Wet board + Range advantage: Larger bets, selective hands
- Dry board + Range disadvantage: Check more, trap with strong hands
- Wet board + Range disadvantage: Check-raise with draws and strong hands
Reading Turn and River Textures
Board texture evolves with each street:
- Draw-completing cards: Third flush card, straight completers
- Pairing cards: Board pairs change dynamics significantly
- Brick turns: Cards that don't change much (2 on K-J-7)
- Action cards: Aces and kings that shift perceived ranges