No-limit Texas Holdem - Pre-flop Strategy

How do you handle the pre-flop action in a no limit hold'em game? Although it may seem like this is only a small part of a no limit hold'em hand, it sets the foundation for the rest of the hand, and is important for that reason. In addition, since it is no limit, things can quickly escalate even pre-flop, so it's key to know what is going on at this stage of the game.

Calling, Betting and Raising Pre-Flop

If you are in early position, you should usually only enter the pot with very strong hands like big cards and big pairs. This is because there are many people to act after you and anyone who calls will get to see what you do on each street before they have to act, which is very disadvantageous for you. In late position, you can be much more willing to call with weaker hands, because there is less chance of you getting raised off of them pre-flop, plus you will get to see what opponents do on each street to help you decide how to proceed.

All-in Before the Flop

In no limit tournaments, there may be times where it is advantageous to get it all-in pre flop. If you are a short stack and the blinds and antes are big, if a number of players have limped and you have a big stack to intimidate your opponents, or if an opponent has moved in with a very short stack and you have a decent hand, are all good times to get it all-in pre-flop in a tournament.

In a cash game however, with relatively good stacks, you rarely have enough of an edge to justify putting it all-in pre-flop. You can push if you think an opponent is weaker than you with a number of hands because you have fold equity, but you should rarely call all-in unless you have a hand like AA or KK. Even hands like QQ and AK should often be thrown away unless you are already committed due to the sequence of pre-flop betting. The exception is if you find yourself in one of the really loose cash games you can find in the lower limits at many poker rooms online.

Continuation Betting

If you have raised before the flop, it's often a good idea to bet the flop whether it hits you or not. Exceptions may be when three or four players called your raise, you missed the flop and are first to act; when the flop is very dangerous for your hand, such as all hearts when you have As Ks, or a big pair on the flop that you do not have a matching card for, or when you picked up some sign of strength from one of the other players, either in how they called your pre-flop raise or their reaction to the flop.