[Intermediate players must see] Make a difference in poker pre-flop!

Thinking Pre-flop

Pre-flop refers to the stage in poker where two cards are dealt to each player, and community cards are not yet revealed.

As community cards are not yet open, the amount of information and potential scenarios available to players is limited. Mastering pre-flop play allows you to act almost mechanically and stand out from others.

There is a hierarchy in hand strength, and not all hands should be played.
Three actions can be taken pre-flop:

• Raise
• Call
• Fold

Pre-flop actions are based on the following criteria:

• Your own hand
• Actions of other players
• Positions of other players
• Stack size

With limited information, there are approximate optimal solutions for pre-flop actions. However, it’s not realistic for humans to memorize and replicate these solutions perfectly.

Therefore, we use simplified charts (pre-flop range charts) that humans can easily interpret for actual play. These charts are simplified considering factors like player level and ease of play.

This chapter introduces pre-flop range charts created with the following considerations:

• Ease of memorization for pre-flop
• Ease of play post-flop

How to Read the Pre-flop Range Chart

Explaining how to read the pre-flop range chart and take actions.

Open Raise

This is the open range pre-flop. The hands to raise with from each position are indicated by color.
For example, if your position is UTG, the hands to raise with are shown in green. The open range for CO includes green, yellow, and light yellow.
If a color is only half-filled, it means to open raise with that hand 50% of the time.

Facing a Raise

This chart shows the actions in response to another player’s open raise pre-flop, with red indicating 3BET, green a call, and white a fold.
The left side shows your position, and the top (VS ??) indicates the position of the player who open raised.
The above chart shows the actions when you are in the BB and the SB has raised.

Facing a 3Bet

This chart indicates actions when your open raise is met with a 3BET pre-flop, with red for 4BET, green for a call, and white for a fold.
The left side shows your position, and the top (VS ??) indicates the position of the person who open raised.
The above chart shows actions when you are on the BTN and either the SB or BB 3BETs against you.

About Squeezes and Raise Sizes

Squeezes are large re-raises (3Bet) pre-flop when someone has open raised and at least one person has called, aimed at forcing other players out and capturing the pot.
Let’s consider a specific example of a squeeze.

Pre-flop

Pre-flop, let’s say you’re on the BTN.
The HJ joins with a raise of 600, and the CO calls 600. You then squeeze to 2400 with ♠K♠Q.
As a result, both opponents fold, and you successfully capture the pot.

• HJ: Perspective of the Original Raiser
  The HJ, with two players behind them, facing a call and re-raise, must be concerned about their hand range and often folds.
  If the HJ responds with a call or 4BET to the re-raise, it’s assumed they have a strong hand.

• CO: Perspective of the Player Who Called the Raise
  The likelihood of this player holding a hand strong enough to withstand a re-raise is quite low.
  If they had a hand strong enough to respond to your 3BET, they would likely have already raised (3BET) against the original open raise.
  Therefore, they will often fold many hands.

Points to Consider for Squeezes

• The more callers there are, the lower the likelihood of a successful squeeze. It’s better to narrow your squeezing hand range.

• If the original raiser is a tight player, they likely have a strong hand range, so narrow your squeezing hand range accordingly.

Raise Sizes

Raise size is determined by your hand range and the opponent’s hand range, but use the following as a guideline:

• Open Raise
  2.5BB to 3BB for an open raise

• 3Bet
  If you’re in position (IP), 3 to 3.5 times the opponent’s open raise
  If you’re out of position (OOP), 4 to 4.5 times the opponent’s open raise

• 4Bet
  If you’re IP, 2.5 to 2.7 times the opponent’s 3Bet
  If you’re OOP, 2.7 to 3 times the opponent’s 3Bet

• Squeeze
  Add 1x the 3Bet raise size for each caller against the open raise.
  For example, if you’re OOP and there’s one caller, 5 to 5.5 times the opponent’s open raise

Summary

This chapter explained the thought process and actions for pre-flop play.
Optimizing pre-flop actions can minimize losses and maximize profits.
To achieve this, pay attention to the following:

• Play while keeping an eye on the pre-flop hand range, or memorize it.
• Estimate hand ranges based on opponents’ actions.
• Understand opponents’ tendencies and play flexibly.