Pre-flop strategy is very important in poker.
Knowing how to wisely play your cards before the flop is an indicator of how well you will do in the game of Texas holdem.
Once you have decided to see the flop you are committing part of your stack.
You risk losing your bet.
If you don't see the flop you risk losing a win.
This is a fifty fifty chance you would be taking if you continue to bet.
You can develop your own pre-flop poker strategy with the help of some basic tips.
Of course circumstances may come up that will have you make other decisions.
Fold pre flop Folding pre flop saves you chips, unless you are small or the big blind.
Just because you're one of the blinds doesn't mean that you have to stay in the hand if your cards aren't good enough.
Folding may be the best thing to do to keep your loss at a minimum.
Worst starting hands that give you a poor chance of winning you should fold.
Some players will stay with the hand when they have poor cards just because they can't stand losing their blinds.
Also being bored, some people bet when they should have folded.
Call pre-flop When should you call? If you feel you have good enough cards call.
Depending on how the round of betting goes if no one raises you may have a good chance to win the pot.
You have to be aware that someone may be just limping in and they have great pocket cards or have a good drawing hand.
Remember chips can dwindle away by seeing every flop and if you call before every flop you may not have enough chips to play out a great hand.
Bet, raise and re-raise pre-flop If you have a good starting hand by all means bet.
How much depends if you want to slow play a high pair so you can build up the pot or make a big enough bet so you can steal the blinds.
Also you might want to chase some of the players out of the hand by raising the bet making it more probable that your hand will come out on top.
Not all players play by the same rules.
They have their own method of playing.
Basically these guidelines will help you get started and with more experience you will develop your own strategy.
Knowing how to wisely play your cards before the flop is an indicator of how well you will do in the game of Texas holdem.
Once you have decided to see the flop you are committing part of your stack.
You risk losing your bet.
If you don't see the flop you risk losing a win.
This is a fifty fifty chance you would be taking if you continue to bet.
You can develop your own pre-flop poker strategy with the help of some basic tips.
Of course circumstances may come up that will have you make other decisions.
Fold pre flop Folding pre flop saves you chips, unless you are small or the big blind.
Just because you're one of the blinds doesn't mean that you have to stay in the hand if your cards aren't good enough.
Folding may be the best thing to do to keep your loss at a minimum.
Worst starting hands that give you a poor chance of winning you should fold.
Some players will stay with the hand when they have poor cards just because they can't stand losing their blinds.
Also being bored, some people bet when they should have folded.
Call pre-flop When should you call? If you feel you have good enough cards call.
Depending on how the round of betting goes if no one raises you may have a good chance to win the pot.
You have to be aware that someone may be just limping in and they have great pocket cards or have a good drawing hand.
Remember chips can dwindle away by seeing every flop and if you call before every flop you may not have enough chips to play out a great hand.
Bet, raise and re-raise pre-flop If you have a good starting hand by all means bet.
How much depends if you want to slow play a high pair so you can build up the pot or make a big enough bet so you can steal the blinds.
Also you might want to chase some of the players out of the hand by raising the bet making it more probable that your hand will come out on top.
Not all players play by the same rules.
They have their own method of playing.
Basically these guidelines will help you get started and with more experience you will develop your own strategy.
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