5 Best Preflop Strategies in Online Poker
Ask any poker player and they are quick to admit that the pre-flop round is like a testing ground when it comes to online poker. The pre-flop round sets the foundation for the following rounds of the game and plays a crucial role in the whole game. Regular players who play poker on a range of poker websites in India will understand this concept better than anybody else. But still, the online poker players- both novice and advanced, struggle to fare well in the pre-flop rounds. These online poker players fail to apply the right pre-flop strategies that will help them in their game. Who does not wish for a good start that can secure them a better chance of winning at online poker? It is recommended that players avoid mistakes during the pre-flop as it will cost them, dear, towards the end of the game.
Here are a few pointers on how to apply an effective pre-flop strategy in online poker. Listed below are 5 best pre-flop strategies that you can use in your poker game.
- Stay away from Limping
- Awareness of your position
- Dare to re-raise or 3-Bet
- Do not play tight at Big Blind
- Play loose at Small Blind
Are you the first player? Then calling the big blind is a big “No”
The first player next to the big blind is the player who actually adds to the pot. The first player begins the game by calling or raising and enjoys a comparatively advantageous position. When the player next to the big blind calls, it is called Limping. Limping often reveals the low confidence level of the player who does it. Pre-flop round is an excellent chance for the first player to build the pot and the chances of winning it are high. By limping, players expose their weak hands and let their opponents take advantage of the situation. The first and foremost pre-flop strategy is to avoid limping.
Your Position influences your range
The distance of the players from the dealer button impacts the type of hands that are used. You should evaluate your position with respect to the position of the dealer button that moves around the poker table. Players should play tight or stick to using their strong hands when there are more players left to play after them. It is because more players mean more strong hands. As you move away from the button towards the tail, you can play loose as there are only a few players left. Your position during a hand has a strong impact on the range of hands you own. Your range is bad when you are closer to the left of the dealer button, and it is good as you move closer to its right. Play wisely taking your position into account. It will leave less room for exploitation by your opponents.
Do not shy away from 3-Betting
A common mistake committed by players at the table is not re-raising or 3-betting during a pre-flop round. A 3-bet is the term used for the third bet or the second raise during any round. Many players shy away from making a re-raise in the pre-flop and often call against a raise. By re-raising, you can put the player who raised into trouble and improve your chances of a showdown with him. Don’t think twice about re-raising during a pre-flop round especially, if you have a strong hand. Also, learn to handle your 3-betting wisely. It can be achieved by bluffing at times to hide your strong hands from other players. Avoid placing very large 3-bets as the pot will not turn in your favour.
Defend your Big Blind position by playing loose
Big Blind position offers players the most significant advantage of witnessing all the betting actions of their opponents at the table. Since this position is the last position to act in the pre-flop round, players should defend their Big Blind by playing loose, especially since the pot odds are good.
Playing actively at the Small Blind
Small Blind is also a position that players should defend while playing. It is recommended that players try to raise a bet and play actively at this position during a pre-flop round. It will prevent the players at the Big Blind position who are at a better advantage than the small blind. If you don’t defend your small blind, you are left at the mercy of your opponent players.
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