It’s rare to find someone who enjoys folding in poker. The thrill of taking a chance at victory while trying to gauge our opponent’s hand is much more enticing. However, knowing when to fold can often distinguish those who merely break even from those who score big profits.
In the early days of online poker, players would typically defend their big blind position with an extremely tight range of hands. If a modern pro were to review the defending ranges from that period, they would certainly chuckle at how overly conservative and impractical they were. We’re referring to the days when... pocket pairs and stronger broadway hands only.
In this section, we will explore four frequent situations where players overlook the chance to make wise preflop folds.
1. Defending the Big Blind
The poker community eventually came to acknowledge that it was essential to relax their defending ranges from the big blind.
This trend towards loosening has progressed to where contemporary defending ranges from the big blind have swung in the opposite direction.
Currently, there are numerous players opting for exceedingly wide defending ranges. big-blind defending ranges in several spots.
Take a look at the following range:
Picture a situation where we’re defending our big blind against a 3bb raise from the button in a low-stakes online cash game with 100bb effective stacks. The strongest hands as indicated on the grid are typically the ones recommended for 3-betting, while hands falling into the middle-strength category are better suited for calling.
As for those hands that fall under the weakest category, they should preferably only be called when there’s a compelling reason; otherwise, a fold is advisable.
First and foremost, any hand that is not classified on the grid above should never be defended preflop as a default approach.
We should always remember these critical points:
- The rake is significant. Even if a hand seems defendable in theory, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wise to defend it in real-world scenarios. The hands that sit at the lower end of a theoretically sound defending range are likely better off folded due to the costs associated with the rake. preflop Being out of position is a disadvantage. Historically, players in poker have placed too much emphasis on pot odds while making preflop choices. In reality, pot odds don't hold much weight when you're dealing with 100bb stacks. What matters more is the playability of our hand.
- When we cold-call from the big blind, we will be out of position , which means many of our hands might not perform well based on their raw equity alone. So even if a hand like K2o seems to offer adequate pot odds to call against an opponent’s button raising range, it doesn’t necessarily mean it should be defended (we’ll dive further into the issues surrounding preflop pot odds later). postflop .
We must be realistic about our skill level. This is a factor that most players tend to neglect. The assumption that just because a hand is theoretically justifiable for defense means we should be playing it is a common pitfall. The wider our defense range, the more complicated our decisions become post-flop, often leading to diminished win rates. Players often find themselves making errors post-flop with the toughest or weakest hands in a theoretically solid defending range. - More often than not, these mistakes made post-flop can completely eliminate any slight profitability that was meant to arise from those weaker hands. In other words, stretching our preflop defending ranges right up to the edge requires a high level of skill—a skill that many average players may not possess. A degree of humility can help us maintain a more profitable strategy by sticking to slightly tighter defending ranges rather than losing our edge by defending hands that can’t withstand scrutiny post-flop.
Finally, anything classified in the weakest category in the grid doesn’t automatically warrant a defense. If we have a valid reason, such as the chance to face weaker opponents, we can consider protecting it; otherwise, sticking to the standard calling range is advisable.
In fact, many of the weaker hands reflected on the grid tend to hurt a player’s win rate rather than enhance it.
Game theory solvers often advocate for a wide defense against various situations.
2. Defending vs 3bets
Attempting to mimic these ranges can be problematic, given that solvers operate on theoretical principles and don’t take into account that the average opponent (Villain) is less aggressive in their 3-betting frequency. In theory, a total frequency of around 8-10% is typically recommended, while in practice, most players only 3-bet around 5-6%. 3bets So, how can we adjust when facing opponents who aren’t as aggressive in their 3-betting as they should be?
We must fold more often to balance out our opponent’s lack of aggression.
The solution is simple.
For instance, let’s examine the following defending range when we face a 3-bet from the blinds after an opponent raises from the button.
To defend this type of range could technically mean we end up folding too frequently from a theoretical standpoint; however, that’s precisely the intent. We aim to defend tighter than the optimal theoretical range in order to take advantage of our opponent’s reluctance to 3-bet.
It’s also crucial to note that our defensive strategy isn’t directly tied to pot odds. Some hands that hold decent equity (like A9o) may not appear in the defending range due to playability issues.
Conversely, certain lower equity hands (such as 86s) might be worth defending due to their greater playability.
In a similar fashion to 3-betting ranges, players generally employ a significantly tighter 4-betting range than what is theoretically appropriate. We can take advantage of this by folding more often against 4-bets than what theory suggests.
3. Defending vs 4bets
Situations involving 4-bets also highlight the broader issue of making preflop decisions solely based on pot odds.
Consider a scenario where a Villain opens from the button for 3bb in a low-limit online cash game, with effective stacks of 100bb. We decide to 3-bet from the big blind to 10bb. Our opponent then responds with a 4-bet to 20bb. Holding KsQs, we now need to decide whether to call or fold? (Hint: we would be placing 10bb into a total pot of 40.5bb).
Imagine the following scenario.
Hero is dealt KsQs.
Villain BTN open-raises to 3bb.
Hero BB 3bets to 10bb.
Villain BTN 4bets to 20bb.
Hero?
We calculate the pot odds by determining the percentage of the total pot that our investment represents. fold Here, we are risking 10bb into a total pot of 40.5bb, which provides us approximately 22.22% in pot odds.
Next, we should assess the pot equity of KQs against the Villain’s range of QQ+/AK.
If we based all our decisions solely on pot odds, this would appear to be an easy call since our pot equity surpasses the offered pot odds.
However, let’s pause and consider the matchup of our hand against their potential range.
Hero’s hand: KQs > Equity 25.08%
Villain’s range: QQ+,AK > 74.92%
What kind of flops should we hope to see, and why are they beneficial?
If our intuition is sharp, the fundamental problem should stand out quickly.
Most flops that are favorable to us simultaneously give our opponent the chance to create even more powerful hands.
For instance, if we hit a pair of Kings on the flop, our opponent might be holding AK or AA. If they possess QQ specifically, we have the upper hand, but it’s unlikely to yield a substantial payout. If we strike a pair of Queens, our opponent could be holding QQ, KK, or AA, and again, if they have AK specifically, the same payout issue arises. Even if we hit two pairs, our opponent may have sets within their range.
Due to these domination possibilities, our equity is significantly hampered by their potential stronger hands. Poker entails more than just assessing preflop equity and deciding if we can call based on pot odds.
In this particular example, we might seem justified in calling due to the direct pot odds, yet we would likely be better off folding due to reverse implied odds. Even experienced players have mistakenly overlooked this principle. Many believe that anytime they receive pot odds, their hand must be a call in preflop situations.
Unfortunately, poker’s complexities mean we have to factor in potential future actions when making preflop decisions.
Pot odds are genuinely only applicable in all-in scenarios.
Several misconceptions persist regarding defending ranges against 5-bet shoves when playing with 100bb effective stacks.
To illustrate, let’s examine this common myth -
4. Defending vs 5bets
MYTH: If we 4-bet for value, it is essential to call off our entire stack when faced with a 5-bet.
This stereotype can be easily debunked. Consider an opponent who calls 4-bets very widely but solely 5-bet shoves with pocket Aces for value. In this situation, we can 4-bet aggressively for value while typically folding every hand when encountering a 5-bet.
| So, what criteria do we use to determine which hands to call when confronting a 5-bet? |
The answer is straightforward. Our decision should be based on our
But didn’t we assert that pot odds aren’t the sole consideration preflop?
Indeed, but we were addressing scenarios where there are extra chips in play post-flop. pot odds .
When it comes to preflop all-in situations, pot odds provide a comprehensive view.
Let’s take a closer look at a typical scenario that many players misinterpret in low-limit online games.
We open-raise AKo from the button to 3bb. The Villain 3-bets from the big blind to 10bb. We then 4-bet to 22bb, and Villain jams for the full 100bb stack.
At first glance, most players would view this as a straightforward call, given that we made a value-driven 4-bet and hold one of the strongest hands preflop.
Hero is dealt AcKh.
Hero BTN open-raises to 3bb.
Villain BB 3bets to 10bb.
Hero 4bets to 22bb.
Villain BB 5bet shoves for 100bb.
Hero?
Many players proceed with the call without any further contemplation.
Call or fold?
Let’s take a moment to crunch the numbers. We would be investing 78bb with our call, meaning we need over 39% equity for the call to be profitable.
Assuming our opponent shoves with a range of JJ+/AK, it may initially seem like a viable call. After all, we established that we require 39% equity, and we have approximately 39.79%. However, it’s crucial not to rush into a decision. Importantly, this situation is very close to break-even. It’s not an overly lucrative slam-dunk call preflop. Should our opponent tighten their range even slightly, we would consequently face losses.
However, this scenario does not encompass the entire landscape. We find ourselves in a low-limit online environment, which means we’ll also incur a considerable amount in rake. Assuming we’re engaged in a 30nl game, this essentially deducts about 10bb from the 200bb pot.
Folding before the flop can be quite challenging, as many players are eager to see the community cards. Yet, effective folds at the right moments can distinguish between merely breaking even and achieving substantial victories.
Hero’s hand: AKo > Equity 39.79%
Villain’s range: JJ+,AK > 60.21%
Understanding Preflop Poker Strategy: Four Scenarios Where You Should Consider Folding Before the Flop
The act of folding in poker is often met with resistance. Players tend to prefer the thrill of taking chances to win while also trying to gauge their opponents' cards. Nonetheless, folding strategically at appropriate times generally separates those who just break even from those who consistently win.
In the early days of online poker, players were known for their overly conservative approach when defending their big blind, adhering to extremely tight hand ranges. If a contemporary pro were to review the typical ranges from that time, they would likely find them to be laughably strict and far from practical.
In this discussion, we'll explore four common situations where players fail to capitalize on the chance to make a wise fold before the flop.
Summary Overview – When It's Wise to Fold Before the Flop
- Eventually, the poker community recognized the need to relax their approach when defending from the big blind.
- This trend towards loosening has progressed to a point where current strategies for defending the big blind have swung in the opposite direction.
- Today, a good number of players are stretching their ranges to an absurd extent.
- Picture this: we're in the big blind, facing a 3bb open raise from the button in a low-stakes online cash game, and the effective stacks are 100bb. The strongest hands in our range are recommended for a 3-bet, while hands that fall into the middle strength category are typically suited for a call.
- The weakest hands in our range should usually only be called under specific circumstances, otherwise they should be folded.
- Firstly, any hands that are not categorized on the grid above should not be defended as a default action.