Peel
To peel is to call a bet with a drawing hand, to see the next card in the hope of improving. It is a small call that keeps the draw alive.
The simple explanation
If someone bets, and you call with a flush draw or a straight draw, you peel one card. You hope to hit on the next card.
A closer look
Peeling is a typical play in position or against small bets. It works when the price is right. You must compare the call with your outs and the implied odds. The word also describes the act of looking at the next card.
A practical example
You hold 9♥ 8♥ on a flop of K♥ 7♥ 2♣, and you call a small bet to see the turn. You peel.
Full explanation
To peel is to call a bet with a drawing hand, to see the next card in the hope of improving. It is a small call that keeps the draw alive.
To peel is to call with a draw to see one more card.
It is a small, cheap call.
Check your outs and the price.
It keeps the draw alive.
A peel
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 clubs (Ac)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of hearts (8h) · 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 clubs (Ac)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B has a flush draw.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 18 chips
Player A bets 6.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 24 chips
Player B calls with his draw to see the next card. This kind of call is a peel.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of hearts (8h) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.