Poker Strategy
Texas Holdem Pre-Flop Play Strategy
2007-11-05 23:20:20
Just as a chess game is split into the opening, middle-game and endgame, a hand of Texas Hold'em poker also has its individual parts, each with its own strategic ideas. The equivalent to the opening in Texas Hold'em poker is pre-flop play; how you handle the two cards you are dealt.
Pre-Flop Play Basics: Hand Strength
The first thing you need to know to be a competent pre-flop player is the relative hand strengths. Poker authors such as David Sklansky and others have identified what are called "premium" hands, that is, the very best two card hands you can be dealt. Sklansky refers to the top hands as Type I hands, the next best hands as Type II and so on down the line.
The very best two card hand you can be dealt is AA. Getting dealt AA by no means guarantees you will win the hand, but it does assure you have the best hand going into the flop. Other premium hands include KK, QQ and AK. Not quite as good but still strong hands include AQ and JJ, and beyond that, any two cards that both fall between T and A have value, as do middle to high pairs such as 99 and TT. Other pairs and cards that are closely connected such as 89 and 9T also have some value, but should not be overvalued and can be routinely folded to a raise or even folded to the blind if out of position. Suited cards are nice to have, but players tend to overvalue these as well. The only suited cards you should really consider playing either contain an ace or have some other high card or connecting card value.
Pre-Flop Play Basics: Position
Position is the key in Texas Hold'em poker. The later you act the more information you have, since more players will be acting before you have to make any kind of decision. When in an early position, you should endeavor to play only the very best premium hands most of the time. As you move later on down the line in position, you can loosen up your starting hand requirements, since the added information can make up for the fact that opponents may be starting with stronger hands.
Pre-Flop Play Basics: Other Considerations
You need to vary your play to some extent or you will become too predictable. It's okay to raise from an early position occasionally with sub-par hands, especially if you get the opportunity to show it down. This will get you action later when you have something really strong. In addition, some experienced players like to get creative with hands like 86 suited or T7.
Playing unusual hands is usually more effective in no-limit games, when flopping a well-disguised monster hand can result in winning an opponent's entire stack. In a fixed-limit game, where the size of the pot is limited by the fixed betting, playing such hands tends to be less profitable. Even in no-limit games, these unusual hands should be played with care and skill, as they can end up costing more than they make if played unwisely.
