Peel

'Peel' is a term used in poker to refer to a situation where a player decides to call a bet with a drawing hand, intending to see the next card in hopes of improving their hand.

What is a Peel in Poker?

A 'Peel' in poker refers to a situation where a player decides to call a bet with a drawing hand, intending to see the next card in hopes of improving their hand. This term is commonly used across various poker variants, including Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud.

For example, if a player has four cards of the same suit and needs one more for a flush, they might decide to 'Peel' and call a bet to see the next card. Peeling is typically a passive strategy. Raising on a draw can be more of a beneficial play, as it effectively turns your hand into a bluff where you have the chance to take down the pot there and then. Be careful, though, if the board is wet or if your opponent indicates strength on previous betting rounds, raising might just simply inflate the pot. In this instance, if you only have a draw, you're a big underdog and raising into strength will be a net-negative play. However, if your opponent is weak themselves, raising could push them off the hand.

Example of "Peel"

For instance, a player might 'Peel' if they have an open-ended straight draw and want to see the next card, hoping to complete their straight.

In another scenario, a player might 'Peel' with a flush draw, calling a bet to see the next card in hopes of hitting their flush.

• "I decided to Peel and see the next card, hoping to complete my straight."
• "He made a Peel with a flush draw, hoping to hit his flush on the next card."
• "She made a Peel with a drawing hand, not wanting to fold just yet."