Poker Term

Reverse Dominance

Editor: dezhoupuke.org

Term: Reverse Dominance Reverse dominance refers to a situation where a hand has a preflop dominance advantage over an opponent, but after the flop, it is overtaken or falls behind. The core meaning: the originally leading hand strength reverses due to the board structure, putting the advantaged side in a passive position. In practice, this term reminds players to be wary of the vulnerability of strong preflop hands on specific flop textures and to avoid over-investing chips. For example, you hold AK and your opponent holds AQ. Preflop, AK clearly dominates AQ. But the flop comes Q-J-10, giving your opponent top pair plus a straight draw, while AK is left with only a gutshot straight draw. At this point, AK goes from being the dominator to the dominated, requiring cautious action to avoid losses.

What this word means at the table

Reverse Dominance is a common postflop dilemma in Texas Hold'em, typically occurring when a player holds a Broadway hand (e.g., AK, AQ). When these hands are raised or called preflop, and the opponent holds a dominated hand (e.g., AJ, KQ), the flop may contain cards that connect with the opponent's hand, causing the opponent to overtake.

Typical Scenarios

  • AK vs AJ: Preflop, AK dominates AJ, but if the flop comes J-8-2, AJ makes top pair while AK only has overcards, leaving AK behind.
  • AQ vs KQ: Preflop, AQ dominates KQ, but if the flop comes K-7-3, KQ makes top pair, putting AQ behind.

Strategic Significance

Reverse Dominance reminds players that even when their hand is ahead preflop, they must still be cautious postflop. When holding a Broadway hand and the flop does not improve to top pair or a draw, players should consider folding to an opponent's continuation bet to avoid falling into the reverse dominance trap. Conversely, players can exploit this principle by calling preflop with a dominated hand, hoping to overtake the opponent on the flop.

Related Terms

  • Dominance: One hand has an equity advantage over another, e.g., AK dominates AQ.
  • Broadway: Refers to cards T, J, Q, K, A.
  • Postflop: The stage of the game after the flop.