Made Hands, Draws and Air
First learn four useful labels for your hand right now: made hand, draw, overcards and air. Then add combo draws and backdoor draws.
What you will be able to do
- Identify made hands and common draws.
- Distinguish overcards, backdoors and air.
- Recognize a combo draw without constructing a bluffing range.
LEARN THE FOUR CATEGORIES
First, see what each term means
Read your hole cards together with the board and classify what you have right now. Start with the current hand—not what it might become later.
Made hand
A hand that already has showdown value, such as a pair or better. It is not guaranteed to win.
Draw
A hand that is not complete yet but can make a straight or flush on the next card.
Overcards
Unpaired hole cards that are both higher than every card on the board.
Air
No made hand and no straight or flush draw that can complete on the next card.
NOW PRACTISE
Classify four examples
Read the hole cards and board, then choose the current category.
Use the definitions above to classify the hand.
ONE THING TO REMEMBER
“Not made” does not always mean air. A hand may have an immediate draw, overcards or a backdoor draw. A backdoor draw needs help on both cards still to come—the turn and river. For example, on makes a flush only if a spade arrives on both the turn and river.
TRY IT
This is a 1-question test. Start when you are ready.