Texas Holdem Preflop Play

Ah, texas holdem preflop play. How should you play?

How do you know if you are playing correctly?

No-Limit Texas Hold'em is one of those games where pre-flop play can vary a lot and what does it depend on?

It depends on your opponent!

This is a basic course on pre-flop play and I won't go into more advanced detail until the more advanced lessons!

Focus on the Basics

What hands should you play and where?

Most of todays online texas holdem games are 6-max so I will focus on these games for now and if you want an article written on 10-handed games let me know!

Proceeding to the first tip about preflop play.

1. Follow Pre-Flop Guidelines If You Are New

Even the greatest poker players in the world draw the line somewhere and you as a beginning player should do so as well.

And I recommend you draw it at a line that makes your pre-flop play tight and aggressive.

I like to think of it as the foundation of a house, if your foundation is poor your whole house will be in trouble.

The same thing is true if you play too many hands pre-flop and in the wrong spots. Your whole game will suffer and you will end up a loser.

2. Are You Caught in the Hamster Wheel?

Do you sometimes notice when you are following your pre-flop guidelines that you slip?

  • You want to win your money back so you start playing suited hands because they look good
  • You are winning lots of money so you can "afford" to gamble a bit
  • You think you can outplay everyone so you play more hands and try to push people out when they aren't folding

Even after over three years of playing professionally I fall into these traps now and then. I have to be very aware of it and try to avoid falling into those dark pits!

Sometimes I fall into them, that's life :)

What should you do when it happens to you?

My #1 tip would be to quit playing, take a break and relax!

Come back fresh, it will save you lots of money in the long run!

3. What Hands Should You Play?

In a normal 6-handed game you should open with a preflop raise with the following hands in the following positions.

Under the Gun (UTG): AQo+, AJs, 77+, KQs+

Middle Position (UTG+1 or MP): AJo+, ATs+, 55+, KQo, KJs

Cut-off (CO): ATo+, A8s+, 44+, KJo+, JTs+

Button: ATo+, A5s+, 22+, JTo+, 98s+

These are rough guidelines and should get you started if you just have no clue what to play. Pre-flop play can vary a lot depending on your opponent but these guidelines should get you started!

4. What About the Blinds?

In no-limit texas hold'em you should play very tight from the blinds. ESPECIALLY if you are new to the game. I see most players making the mistake of playing too loose from the blinds.

Yes, even players who have played as long as myself!

Position is huge in big bet games like nolimit holdem. You have more information to act on and when you are in the blinds you almost never have favorable position.

The guidelines are as follows, call a raise with the following hands if the raiser raises from the CO or Button.

Small Blind (SB): AJs+, AQo+, 88+

Big Blind (BB): ATs+, AJo+, 55+

If the raiser is opening with a preflop raise from earlier positions like UTG or MP you should often play very tight because they have on average better hands.

Guidelines I would recommend are:

Small Blind (SB): AQs+, AKo, 22+

Big Blind (BB): AQs+, AKo, 22+

5. What's Up With the Pocket Pairs?

The thing is... When your opponents hand range (will be explained in more advanced lessons) is narrower (i.e. he has on average better hands when raising from early position compared to late position).

This means that hands like pocket pairs have great implied odds.

A good example is if a tight poker player raises Under the Gun with AA and you call with 22 in the Small Blind.

Flop comes down: Q 5 2 rainbow (three different suits)

Now it is very likely you will win his whole stack here.

But let's look at someone raising in late position with JTs and you call with 22 in the SB.

Flop comes down: T 4 2 rainbow

It is less likely that you will get his whole stack since he will be cautious about getting all his money in with top pair with a weak kicker.

So the weaker hands he has on average the worse your implied odds are because he will not want to give you all his money that often compared to someone who is raising stronger hands in early positions.

I hope that made sense. If not, send me a note and tell me what specifically you had trouble understanding!

6. I Want All the Gold Now, Eff the Reindeers!

Relax young grasshopper. I urge you to try these guidelines out.

Some things you will notice that will make you want to play looser:

  • You are card dead for long periods of time
  • You play good cards but see people play crap and win
  • You get great cards but are not hitting anything and the board keeps getting ugly forcing you to fold.

Patience! You are ahead of 90% of all the holdem players out there if you play tight!

After awhile you will advance to more advanced forms of preflop play with preflop raises and changing gears and all that!

Summary

  • Establish tight pre-flop guidelines
  • Notice when you are slipping and take a break
  • Have patience, winning players have great patience
  • Think long-term learning
  • Read Texas Holdem Poker 101 and enjoy life! ;]

Want to win more? Click and Read More Grasshopper


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