If you want to learn to play winning poker, then the first step is to gain a complete understanding of the correct Texas Hold Em Pre Flop Poker Strategy.

Pre Flop Poker Strategy is essential since how you play the hole cards that you are dealt is the cornerstone of playing Texas Hold Em poker the right way.

Your position at the poker table is a very important consideration for Texas Hold Em Pre Flop Poker Strategy.

We will divide a 9 handed table into the SB (small blind), BB (big blind), UTG (Under The Gun) & UTG+1 will be early position, the following three positions will then be considered middle position, and the Cutoff and Button will be late position.

Pre Flop Poker Strategy for Early Position

Sitting in early position at the poker table means that you will be one of the first players to act.

You are at an inherent information disadvantage throughout the hand as the other players get to act after you have made it clear what you plan to do with your hand.

With a lot of players left to act after you and without knowing the strength of their hands, you will need to have tight starting hand requirements in early position.

This means you should only play the following hands – AA, KK, AK, QQ and JJ.

We generally advise raising these starting hands in early position for value and to thin out the field behind you.

One popular move at an aggressive table where you can expect to be raised if you limp in, is to limp with AA or KK and let someone else do the raising and then re-raise them in order to build a big pot and get the maximum value for your hand.

Pre Flop Poker Strategy for Middle Position

In middle position you have a few more options opened to you than in Early Position.  We recommend the following Pre Flop Poker Strategy if:

No one has entered the pot – raise with AA to 99, AK to AJ, and KQ.  Limp with 88 to 22 and big suited connecting cards like QJs, JTs, 98s.

A caller already in the pot – raise with AA to JJ, AK to AQ, KQ.  Call with TT to 22 and big suited connecting card like QJs, JTs, 98s.

A raiser already in the pot – re-raise with AA to QQ, and AK.  Call with JJ to 77, and AQs.

In middle position you are able to react to what people have done before you and you know that there are now less people that have to act behind you.

All the same, there are still some players who will have position on you, so you must be careful not to play too loosely pre flop and give chips away as a result.

Pre Flop Poker Strategy for Late Position

In late position you have an advantage over the entire table in that you get to act last during the rest of the hand.  This is great because you get to see what everyone else does with their hand before you decide how to play yours.

As a result, you have the most options available to you in late position.  We recommend the following Pre Flop Poker Strategy if:

No one has entered the pot – raise with AA to 77, AK to A9, KQ to KT, QJ and JT.  Call with 66 to 22, 98s to 54s, 98o to 76o.

A caller already in the pot – raise with AA to TT, AK to AJ, and KQ.  Call with 99 to 22, AT to A9, KJ to JT, 98s to 54s.

A raiser already in the pot – re-raise with AA to JJ, AK.  Call with TT to 55, AQs to AJs, KQs.

Playing the blinds

The blinds will count as Early Position for the remainder of the hand, but for the pre flop part of it they are worth special mention.

You will play the blinds out of position later in the hand, but at the start you have an advantage because you can see what the other players have done so you technically have position pre flop.

No one has entered the pot – raise with AA to 77, AK to A9, KQ to KT, QJ and JT.  Call or check with 66 to 22, 98s to 54s, 98o to 76o.

A caller already in the pot – raise with AA to TT, AK to AJ, KQ to KJ.  Call or check with 99 to 22, AT to A9, QJ to JT, 98s to 54s.

A raiser already in the pot – re-raise with AA to JJ, AK.  Call with TT to 55, AQs to AJs, KQs.

All of the above are general hand ranges and should be tightened and loosened depending on the circumstances.

For example, if the raiser who has already entered the pot is the tightest player at the table who will only raise with AA, KK and AK, then you will not want to re-raise him with JJ, but call instead in the hope of catching a set or seeing if you can win the pot on a later betting round.

Another exception would be if you are in the blinds and the button raises your blind every hand, this would be a special circumstance where you may re-raise him with a weak range of hands to punish him for his constant steal attempts.

Always remember Texas Hold Em Pre Flop Poker Strategy is the starting point of the hand and is a key part of winning at Texas Hold Em.