Poker is a game of skill and strategy.   A part of it depends on luck, but it’s not a particularly large part. Some even say that poker is 90% strategy, 10% luck. And with the birth of the newer variations, poker has just become much more challenging. Take Texas Hold’em for example. Unlike the original straight poker, the players are not handed their cards all in one go. They’re just given two hole cards and the rest are community cards, revealed only as the game progresses in terms of the flop, the turn, and the river. As a result, poker has turned into a game that is played in stages. And a lot of the strategizing and the plotting and planning in poker takes place in the pre-flop. This is the time where all the players have been handed their hole cards and have yet to see the “flop” or the first three community cards.  

 

Even here, at the early stages of the game, the action is intense. Most players are on relatively even ground, as anything can happen. A player might get a pair of kings as his hole cards, and continue to play confidently. But then, a player with a pair of 2’s can easily get the upper hand if another 2 shows up on either the flop, the turn, or the river. The tables can turn at any part of the game. However, you can’t always ride on your luck. If you play every hand you’re dealt and just keep hoping for the best, you’ll find yourself broke within minutes. It is therefore vital that you actually decide whether or not you’re actually going to play your hand. You have to calculate the risks and see if they’re really worth taking. 

 

One of the most important things to do in the preflop stage is to take note of the various factors and see if they will negatively or positively influence your game. 

 

Take the number of players, for example. If there are 10 of you playing, then the chances of having someone with better cards than you are really high. Remember, in poker, the more players there are, the steeper the competition is. In fact, you’ll have to be really wary about the cards of others if yours are only mediocre. If you can’t afford to lose chips or if you are not into aggressive play, then just fold if your hand is not good enough. However, if you can afford to lose some, then go right ahead. Sometimes, the risk might not seem to be worth it at first, but then it might just end up being the risk you wish you had taken.

 

The table position is also rather important when it comes to pre-flop strategy. When you’re in the early or the middle position, try to go for the more conservative play. But if you’re at the late position, you can play more aggressively, especially if you already have a rough estimate of the others’ hands. 

 

Another thing to consider is what your hole cards are. Taking into account the number of players and your table position, you can then decide if your hand is really worth playing. High cards are definitely good, and pairs are a good bet too. If, however, you get a hand like 2 and 9, then you’re better off folding before you lose any money.