Preflop play

Preflop play is one of the most important stages of a poker hand. This is where starting hand assessment and selection takes place, and this is where the stage is set for optimal post-flop play.

Starting hand section is something many advanced players frown upon. Sure, at high stakes and against highly skilled opponents, starting hand selection becomes secondary as it’ll be much more important to play the players well than one’s actual cards. At low limits though, where the majority of players are, starting hand selection will still be extremely important.

In this respect, studying starting-hand charts may seem like a raw approach, but it is an efficient one.

Preflop play is a delicate affair. Basically, the principle that should guide your preflop actions should be this one: if a hand is not worth raising, it’s probably not worth playing at all. Aggressive preflop action is meant to achieve several things. On one hand it’ll pressure several opponents into folding. That’ll thin the pack so you’ll have fewer drawing hands to deal with on the flop. It’ll also seriously cut back on the schooling. With fewer hands to do battle with, your odds will get a huge boost.

Getting more money into the pot will aid your pot odds in two different ways. Those who remain in the hand will stuff the pot further. There will always be a couple of rookies who’ll call your preflop raise and fold when you fire your second bullet on the flop. Those guys leave dead money in the pot, which does wonders to your pot odds.

Even if it turns out that someone has a better starting hand than yours, being aggressive preflop will help you gather information (in some cases) that will prevent you from committing money to the pot later on.