
Weak Preflop Hand After the Flop
If you have a weak hand preflop, it’s doubtful that you will make a hand after the flop. In fact, the odds are stacked against you. For example, if you have a pair of deuces (22) and the flop comes A54, there’s only about an 11% chance of making a set. And even if you make a set, someone else likely has a higher set or an ace-high flush. So, in this case, it’s probably best to just fold and save your chips for a better opportunity.
Good Drawing Potential, But Having the Wrong Pot Odds to Call
Sometimes, we feel like we have good drawing potential. But after some calculation, we realize that the pot odds to call are not good enough. For instance, suppose you’re in hand with JT on a flop of A54. You have an open-ended straight draw and a flush draw. The pot is $100, and your opponent bets $40. To call, you need to put in $40. So, the pot odds to call are 100: 40, or approximately two-and-a-half-to-one.
That means for every $100 in the pot, you can win $250 by calling. For this call to be profitable in the long run, you need to hit your hand about 33% of the time. However, the odds of making your hand are only about 20%. So, in this case, it would be better to just fold and wait for a better opportunity.
A Pocket Pair Preflop Being Played Against More Than One Opponent
When you’re dealt a pocket pair preflop, the general rule of thumb is to only play it if there are two or fewer opponents. If there are more than two opponents, the chances of someone having a higher pocket pair or a better drawing hand are too high. For example, suppose you’re dealt a pair of eights (88) and three other players are in the hand. The flop comes A54. Even if you make a set, someone else likely has a higher set or a better flush draw. So, in this case, you should probably just fold and live to fight another day.
Texas Hold’em poker is such a fun and exciting game. But it’s important to know when to fold. If you’re unsure whether or not to fold, just keep these telltale signs in mind, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful poker player. Thanks for reading, and good luck at the tables.