Pre-flop poker strategy

Many poker players consider that the outcome of a hand is highly influenced by the pre-flop actions. There are some very important aspects that you should consider before making a move before the flop is dealt. These are: number of players, position and your bankroll.

The number of players can actually influence the game because the higher number of players sitting at the table increases the probability of one or more players to have a strong hand or a pair pocket. It’s recommended that while playing at large poker tables (with eight, nine or ten players) to be more cautious. This means to play only strong hands that give you more chances to win.

The position is also important not only in pre-flop, but in general. There are three positions in which you can find yourself before the flop is dealt according to the betting order: early, middle and late.

Early position is the worst, meaning that you are among the first ones to bet. This is a major disadvantage because you don’t know how many players will continue and if anyone else will place a large bet. On this position is wise to play only good hands.

In middle position you already know how the players before you really stand, so you can make a better decision. If all players before you have folded, you are in an early position again so be careful.

The late position is the best because these players can influence the pot with a bet or a raise. That can force other players to fold if they don’t have a strong hand.

The bankroll is another crucial aspect of any poker strategy, whether is online or offline. A higher bankroll gives more confidence to any player, while a small one will make the player more cautious. In real money poker, the bankroll will always influence the player’s strategy.