Poker Hands To Always Fold

How to Play Poker. Poker is a popular game that's easy to learn but difficult to master. Although it's a card game, poker is also a game of strategy, and you'll need to constantly read the other players to decide when to fold, when to. When it comes to folding your poker hand, there are usually two types of players. Those who fold too often and those who don’t fold enough. The former loses out on most opportunities to win and makes themselves a target. When you fold too often, other players dub you a rookie. If you can put these into your repertoire of hands you need to fold pre-flop, you’ll potentially find that your sessions are more profitable. Jack-10 (Suited or unsuited) At first glance, J-10. The 'hooks' can reel you into losing a fortune. That’s why they’re often considered to be one of the toughest hands to play. If you raise with them and are called, the chances are the flop will contain at least one or more higher cards. And even if it doesn't, there’s always the danger of aces, kings, or queens.

All variations of Poker include some form of betting. This means that before a player can show down a hand and win the pot (if holding the best hand), the player must match the bets of the other players. The number of betting rounds in each hand differs between the different poker variations. But regardless of the variation, individual betting rounds follow more or less the same pattern.

A typical betting round

In a typical betting round, there is already a pot of a certain size from earlier betting rounds. The player that should start betting is decided by the rules of the variation being played. The betting turn then moves to the player on the left and so on around the table.

Fold, check, bet or raise

When it is your turn to bet, you have a number of choices. If you do not like your hand, you can always fold – that is, lay down your hand and leave the pot for the other players to contest. If no one has bet before you in this betting round, you may check.

Checking means betting nothing and passing the turn on to the player on your left.

However, if a player before you has bet in this betting round, you cannot check. You can always fold, but if you want to play, you have to either call that bet or raise.

You call by putting in a bet of the same size as the last bet made before you.

You raise by putting in a bigger bet than the last bet before you.

Example

If, for example, a player before you bet $1, you can call by betting $1 or raise by betting more than $1.

Ending the betting

When all players have either folded or put an equal amount of bets into the pot, the betting round is over. Now the next card is dealt. Or, if it was the last betting round, the remaining hands are compared to find out who wins the pot. This is called the showdown.

Winning without showing your hand

If you put in a bet or a raise and all remaining players fold, you win the pot without showing your hand. This is a common event in poker, and it is the reason why it is possible to bluff in poker. You don’t have to show a winning hand to win the pot. Bluffing may not be as common as people think, but is still a typical characteristic of the game of poker.

The First Betting Round

The first betting round is a bit more complicated than the consecutive, typical, betting rounds described above.

Blinds or antes

Before even the cards are dealt, some or all of the players must put in a mandatory bet, either blinds or antes (see below). This is to create an initial pot to compete for. If no player was forced to bet, players could sit around waiting for the very best hands before playing, and it would cost them nothing. Like that, poker could really be like watching paint dry.

When the mandatory bets have been posted and the cards have been dealt, the first betting round starts. It looks a bit different depending on whether antes or blinds are being used as the mandatory bet.

When playing with antes

An ante is a forced bet that all players must put in before the cards are dealt. It is usually about 10% of the small bet.

When the cards have been dealt, the player to start betting is decided by the rules of the specific variant. When the first player has bet, the betting turn moves to the left around the table just like the typical betting round described above.

When playing with blinds

A blind is a forced bet that some but not all of the players have to put in before the cards are dealt. Usually, it is the two players to the left of the dealer who must each put in a blind. Usually, the first player must put in a smaller bet, called the small blind, while the second player must put in a bigger bet, called the big blind.

Blinds, as opposed to antes, are considered as being live. They count as valid bets in the first betting round.

When the cards have been dealt, the first betting round is initiated by the player to the left of the big blind. Since the big blind counts as a bet, this player may not check. He can always fold, but if he wants to play he must call or raise.

To call, he must put in a bet the size of the big blind. To raise, he must put in a bigger bet than this (at least twice the size of the big blind).

Then the betting moves to the left around the table, much like in the typical betting round described above.

Small blind

If you are in the small blind position when the betting comes around to you, you can either fold, call or raise. Since the small blind counts as a bet, it is a bit cheaper for you to call. If, for example, the small blind is $1, to call a bet of $4 you need to put in another $3. Calling means matching the last bet, and since the blinds are live, you can include your small blind when you calculate the amount needed to call.

Big blind

If you are in the big blind position, when the betting comes around to you, you can still fold, call or raise. Since the big blind also counts as a bet, now it is even cheaper for you to call. In order to call a certain bet, you need to put in an amount equal to that bet minus the size of the big blind.

If, for example, the big blind is $2 and a player has bet $4, you call by simply putting in another $2.

Checking in the big blind

If you are in the big blind, the first betting round is a bit special. When the betting turn comes around to you, if no player has raised your big blind, you have the right to either check or bet.

This is a bit different from the typical betting round, and can be a bit confusing for the starting poker player. Not to worry, you will get the hang of it in no time!

Showdown

If more than one player remain in the hand when the last betting round is completed, there is a showdown. This means that the remaining players show their cards to decide who has the best hand.

The showdown starts with the player who was first to put in the last bet. That is, the player who made the bet that the other players called.

Examples

If one player bets $5, another player folds and a third calls the bet, the first player must show his cards first.

If one player bets $10, a second player raises to $20 and the first player calls the raise, it is the second player who must show his cards first, since he was the first player to bet $20.

Not showing when you lost

In a showdown, when a player before you has shown a hand that beats yours, you do not have to show your hand.

Winning without showing your hand

If you put in a bet or a raise and all remaining players fold, you win the pot without showing your hand. This is a common event in poker, and it is the reason why it is possible to bluff in this game. You don't have to show a winning hand to win the pot. Bluffing may not be as common as people think, but is still typical for the game of poker.

Understanding Various Situations When You Should Fold Your Hands

Players have several decisions to make when playing poker such as what cards to play, whether to bet or not if at all, and most importantly, deciding when, where, and if a hand should be folded. “Knowing when to hold’em and when to fold them” is a crucial part of poker and a concept that many players struggle with. All players go through a phase where it is near possible to fold pocket aces, or any other made hand, even when it is obvious that an opponent has a better hand.

So when is it the right time to fold a hand? Well, nothing is set in stone but the first situation that a player needs to evaluate is their starting hands.

Evaluating Your Starting Hands

Poker Hands To Always Fold Around

When a player decides what cards they choose to initially enter a pot with, little do they know that they are setting themselves up for later streets. The decisions that they have to make can be easy or it can be difficult and will all depend on their starting hands. Many factors need to be considered when deciding what hands to play and what hands to fold. As a good rule of thumb, always try to have starting hands that are at least paired, suited, connected, or a combination of suited and connected. This will ensure easier decisions later on the flop, turn, and the river.

So, how will a player know what cards to fold? A player will know when to fold when they get hands that need miracle flops to be ahead such as J-5, 2-3, 4-6, and so forth. All other hands that are playable will of course be dependent on position, pot odds, and opponents.

Understanding the Flop Texture

Regardless of the hand a player holds pre-flop, whether it is 2-7 off suit or pocket aces, it can be way ahead on the flop or way behind. So the first step to knowing if a player should fold his or her hand or not, is to look at the flop texture.
Knowing how to read the board and analyze what possible hands can be out there is the first thing that should be done after the flop. Pocket Aces can be great on a board like Kc-9d-5h, but can be a bit scary on a board like Kc-Qc-Jc. Even though a pair of Aces beat a pair of anything on the flop, a player who has A-10 or 9-10 has you beat not to mention any two clubs. A situation like this should be more obvious, but if not, this would be an ideal time to consider letting the “rockets” go.

A situation where it may not be so obvious is when a player has middle pair top kicker. For example, when a player has A-10 on a board such as K-10-7. An opponent can beat your pair of 10’s with a pair of Kings. What does a player do in this situation?

This of course is completely situational however, something to consider is your opponents range. If a player is in early position then a King would definitely be in their range of starting hands and more likely, thus giving an opponent with A-10 an easier decision. However, if the roles were reversed and the player with A-10 is in early position then it is possible that A-10 is ahead as a player in late position typically has a wider range of hands. Even if an opponent is representing a King, it could still be worthwhile to see the turn.

Something else to keep in mind as you are reading this is the type of game that is being played. Players who play limit or fixed limit poker are justified in playing a potential “2nd” best hand as it will only cost a few more bets to find out. It is actually considered an incorrect play to go to the river and fold; unless a player was on a draw and missed or is absolutely sure they are beat.

The last thing to point out is to simply determine whether or not the price is right to continue on in the hand. If someone is betting big and it is getting raised and re-raised, are you really going to want to risk a big bet on hand that you are unsure of? Of course not.

When to Fold Your Hand

Poker Hands To Always Fold Marie Kondo

It really is a difficult to give concrete advice on an action that is so situational. Although at times folding will be obvious when there are possible made hands on the board, many times a player will be in a situation where they can be ahead but the board texture is telling them they may not be.

Poker Hands To Always Fold Away

Poker Hands To Always Fold

In these situations it is important to analyze the flop, your opponents, and how much it may cost to go further in the hand. And if a player is not willing to call a big bet with their hand, then that is a sure fire sign that it may be time to fold.