A look at some Pre-Flop Considerations in unopened pots

When the pot has yet to be opened every decision you make pre-flop begins with your position at the table. There are numerous other variables that will go into your decision to fold, call, or raise, but the first consideration will always be your position.

The reason your position is so important to your pre-flop decision is for two reasons:

1. The other variables become more and less important as your position improves
2. The other variables become more defined as you position improves

So what are these other variables?

• Your Hand
• Table Image
• Table Dynamic

For instance, if you find yourself in a very loose/passive Limit Holdem game (assume an average of five players see the flop for a single raise in most pots), and you have a tight image, where you are at the table is extremely important in how you will proceed.

Here is a single example of what factors will increase in importance based on your position in unopened pots, and which will decrease.

Scenario 1: You have A5s UTG

Even though A5s is a nice multi-way hand (which the table dynamic says is the likely outcome of the pre-flop action), in a no-foldem holdem game this is still not a hand you want to be putting in multiple bets pre-flop with, especially with terrible position throughout the hand. Since we have no idea how many players will be in the pot because of our position (will it be limped 8-way or 3-bet with just two players taking the flop) the strength of your hand becomes the most important factor. Your tight table image isn’t going to help you in any way since it’s unlikely to be folded around in a no-foldem game, and as mentioned, with so many players still to act it’s hard to get a read on what the action will be behind you.

Scenario 2: You have A5s in the HiJack

Unlike UTG, in the HiJack we now have a fair amount of information, and unlike in Scenario 1, our hand is not quite as important now that we have a chance to steal the blinds or get a call from a weaker hand. With four players still to act your hand is still pretty important, but even more important are the tendencies of the remaining players. The table dynamics are no longer important because four players have already folded.

Scenario 3: You have A5s on the Button

In this scenario everything is dependent on the players in the blinds. Habitual folders can be raised with a much weaker hand than A5s, and unless the big blind is a solid player with a good read on you, you really don’t mind taking a flop with what is likely the best hand. Also growing in importance is your table image. Are you perceived to be a blind stealer, or do you have a nitty image?