Improve
To improve is to make your hand better with the cards that come later, for example on the flop, turn or river. Your hand improves when it gets stronger than it was.
The simple explanation
Suppose you hold ace-king and the flop has no ace or king. You have only high cards. If the turn is a king, you have a pair of kings, so your hand improved.
A closer look
In draw games, the word means to exchange cards to get a better hand. In community-card games, it means that the board helps you. Players think about how often a hand improves: a pair can improve to a set, and a draw can improve to a straight or a flush. Not every improvement wins the pot, because the card that helps you can also help the opponent.
A practical example
You hold A♥ K♦ and the flop is 9♣ 6♠ 2♦. The turn is K♠, and your hand improves to a pair of kings.
Full explanation
To improve is to make your hand better with the cards that come later, for example on the flop, turn or river. Your hand improves when it gets stronger than it was.
To improve is to make your hand better.
The new cards can come on the flop, turn or river.
In draw games, it means exchanging cards.
An improvement does not always win.
To improve
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB QQueen of clubs (Qc)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB QQueen of clubs (Qc)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB QQueen of clubs (Qc)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A has only ace high.
Board: 99 of clubs (9c)66 of spades (6s)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of clubs (Qc)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: 99 of clubs (9c)66 of spades (6s)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of clubs (Qc)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks.
Board: 99 of clubs (9c)66 of spades (6s)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of clubs (Qc)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 12 chips
The king gives Player A a pair of kings. His hand has improved.
Board: 99 of clubs (9c)66 of spades (6s)22 of diamonds (2d)KKing of spades (Ks)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of clubs (Qc)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.