Before The Flop In Poker
In this poker strategy article we discuss when a player might consider folding a ‘monster hand’ preflop in a game of No Limit Hold’em (NLHE) poker. Why might a poker player do such a thing? Let’s discuss…
In the early stages of poker tournaments, pots will be contested by more players than in cash games. You can call a raise before the flop, only to see 2 or 3 other players also flat call. When you see the flop 5 handed, you’ll need to hit it hard to have a shot at winning the pot. This improves the value of hands like small pairs and suited aces.
There’s an old saying in poker, coined by the inimitable Kenny Rogers, that you’ve got to know when to hold’em and know when to fold ’em. The old Texan was way ahead of his time when it comes to No Limit Hold’em poker strategy. Making successful laydowns at the poker table is as crucial a skill as any that you will ever learn. However, it’s not easy to fold big hands pre-flop, even when the evidence that you are beat is overwhelming. After all, you might have been waiting all day to be dealt something good – but if you’re behind it doesn’t matter what has occurred before, you still need to let it go and lose the minimum.
So, how can you tell if you should fold a strong hand? There are many different elements that go into making the correct decision – and it’s important to consider all of them. When you get dealt a strong hand like pocket Jacks or Ace-Queen, the immediate expectation is that you should play aggressively and give yourself the opportunity to win a big pot. This means opening with a raise, or putting in a re-raise (three-bet) if someone has opened before you. But what do you do when you face aggression by another player who raises again? It’s completely dependent on the state of the game and who that opponent is.
If, for example, you are in the early stages of a tournament there’s a strong possibility that the player you’re up against has a really strong hand. That’s because, unlike later in the tournament where blinds and antes are much bigger, there is no real reason for them to go after you and get out of line. In this instance, you certainly shouldn’t get carried away with your hand and look to get all-in before the flop. It would be much better just to call and get more information depending on what cards come on the flop, or even just to fold and wait for a better situation in a more important stage of the tournament.
Before The Flop In Poker Game
In this instance, you certainly shouldn’t get carried away with your hand and look to get all-in before the flop. It would be much better just to call and get more information depending on what cards come on the flop, or even just to fold and wait for a better situation in a more important stage of the tournament. But here’s what they don’t tell you: Your poker strategy before the flop is far more important. The decisions you make with your starting hands are like seeds planted in the ground; do it right, and you’ll reap a rich harvest. Do it wrong, and your bankroll could wither. All in Before the Flop at Cash Games If an opponent is going all in preflop with a wide range, like MP3 in the picture, then we are fine stacking off with JJ+ and AQ+. Generally, cash games play deeper, and opponents are correctly tighter when it comes to going all in preflop.