Pre-flop: Fundamental concepts

Strategy: Fixed Limit

Introduction

► Tight is right

► Properties of non-pair starting hands

► Domination

► Advantages of the late position

► Advantages of suited starting hands

► Three categories of profitable starting hands

Tight is right

► Important notes:▫ Only the best hand wins▫ Wait for your opponent’s mistakes▫ Only play select starting hands with a high EV

► EV – Expected value▫ Indicates the average profit / loss

of an action

Properties of non-paired starting hands

► Main difference▫ Probabilities for top pairs, straights

and flushes

► The important properties of a starting hand▫ High card strength▫ Suitedness▫ Connectedness

► When is a starting hand strong?▫ 2 or 3 of the properties should be fulfilled▫ High card strength is very important▫ Advantage of two high cards:

- larger chance of hitting top pair- Good kicker

Domination

► Domination▫ Top pair with a bad kicker – often dominated▫ For example AK vs. A8▫ Often the second best hand– expensive▫ Less of a chance of a top pair▫ Not as dangerous in multiway pots

► Examples

▫ vs 79.7 : 20.3

▫ vs 74.4 : 25.6

▫ vs 90.9 : 9.1

Advantage of the late position

► Information is crucial

▫ More action before you – more information for you

▫ Meaningful particularly for speculative starting hands or starting hands that are often dominated

Advantages of suited starting hands

► Chances of a flush are only about 6%▫ However: normally a large pot

▫ Particularly profitable in multiway pots

▫ Increase from 16% to 20% is not 4%, but rather 25%!

▫ Strong hands on the flop, for example a pair + flush draw allows for aggressive play

▫ Often without showdown winners

Three categories of profitable starting hands

► Top pair hands▫ Two cards that are ten or higher– Broadway

hands▫ Most top pairs – small and middle-sized pots▫ Aggressiveness on the flop against

speculative hands▫ Not as dangerous in multiway pots

► Speculative hands▫ Above all, small pairs and suited connectors▫ Seldom a good hand▫ But large pots▫ Strong in multiway pots

► Powerhouse hands▫ Advantages of top pair hands and speculative hands▫ AA, KK, QQ, but also Aks and AQs

Summary

Good luck!

► Strength of the hand▫ Card value▫ Connectivity▫ Suited / offsuited

► Tight is right