Simple idea
You get 2 hole cards. Before any community cards appear, players act in order. You can fold, call, or raise.
Good preflop = fewer mistakes later. Choose hands that make money, from seats where you act late.
Preflop Basics (Easy Guide)
Preflop is everything that happens before the flop: positions, starting hands, and your first raises, calls, or folds. Master preflop and the rest of poker becomes easier. This page gives simple rules that work at low–mid stakes.
What is preflop?
Your goals
- Play stronger hands in early seats, more hands in late seats.
- Use standard sizes so your decisions are repeatable.
- Avoid weak calls out of position.
Positions (who acts when)
Early
UTG / UTG+1 (9-max) or UTG (6-max). Many players act after you → play tight.
Middle
MP. Still some players behind you. Add a few more hands, but stay solid.
Late
Cutoff (CO) and Button (BTN). You act last postflop often → open the most hands.
Blinds
SB and BB. You post money first and play out of position a lot → be careful with calls.
Read more
See the full page: Position — why acting last is powerful.
Open-raising (first raise in pot)
Default sizes
- 2.0–2.5x from most seats.
- Button: 2.0–2.3x (you are in position).
- Small Blind: vs folds, 3x is common (you’ll be OOP).
x = big blinds. Example: 1/2 blinds → 2.2x = 4.4 chips.
Sizing deep-dive: Bet Sizes (Easy Guide).
Starting hand buckets
Bucket
Examples
Open from
Premium
AA, KK, QQ, AKs
All seats
Strong
JJ–99, AQs–ATs, KQs, AKo
UTG+ / wider later
Playable
88–66, A9s–A2s, KJs–KTs, QJs, JTs, T9s
MP/CO/BTN
Speculative
55–22, 98s–54s, K9s, QTs
CO/BTN
Trash
Offsuit junk like J4o, T6o
Fold
This is a simple template for full-ring/6-max. Adjust for table quality and stacks.
Facing a raise (your options)
Fold
Best option with weak hands, especially out of position. Folding preflop saves chips.
Call
- Prefer in position (CO/BTN) vs reasonable opens.
- Good with suited broadways, pairs, suited connectors.
- Avoid wide calls in SB (tough postflop).
3-bet (re-raise)
- Value: QQ+, AK, sometimes JJ/AQ.
- Bluff: blockers like A5s, KTs (more on BTN/CO).
- Size: ~3x IP, 3.5–4x OOP.
Simple rule: Out of position, play tighter and 3-bet more of your playable hands. In position, call more and 3-bet a mix of value + blockers.
3-bets & 4-bets (quick plan)
3-bet ranges (starter)
- Value: QQ+, AK (always). Add JJ/AQ vs loose opens.
- Bluffs: A5s–A2s, KTs–KQs, QJs (best on BTN/CO).
- Sizes: ~3x IP; 3.5–4x OOP (vs 2.2x open → 6.5–7x IP, 8–9x OOP).
4-bet ranges (starter)
- Value: KK+, AKo/AKs (often). QQ some of the time.
- Bluffs: A5s/A4s (blockers, good equity when called).
- Sizes: Not all-in: ~2.2–2.5x IP, 2.5–2.8x OOP (of the 3-bet size).
Shorter stacks → more all-ins (see below).
Versus limpers (no raise yet)
Isolate (raise bigger)
- Rule: 4–5x + 1x per limper.
- Choose hands that play well heads-up: broadways, suited aces, pairs.
- Prefer position (CO/BTN) for isolation raises.
Over-limp (just call)
- Multiway hands: small pairs (set mine), suited connectors, suited gappers.
- Good when many limpers and you are in late position.
Stack sizes (change your plan)
Short (≤ 25bb)
- Open smaller (2.0–2.2x). Fewer calls OOP.
- More shove/fold spots vs 3-bets and late-stage tournaments.
- Pairs & big aces go up in value.
Medium (25–60bb)
- Standard opens (2.0–2.5x).
- 3-bet sizes normal; avoid loose calls OOP.
- Speculative suited hands fine in position.
Deep (60bb+)
- Suited connectors/gappers gain value.
- Be cautious bloating pots OOP with weak top pairs.
- 3-bet a bit larger OOP to deny good odds.
Multiway pots (3+ players)
What changes
- You need stronger hands to continue.
- Position is even more important.
- Bluffs go down; value hands go up.
Preflop tips
- Call more with hands that flop big (sets/straights/flushes).
- 3-bet for value; avoid thin 3-bet bluffs vs multiple callers.
Quick math & examples
Pot odds (facing a raise)
Open size
BBs you call
Pot after call
Price
2.2x
2.2
~5.4x
~41%
2.5x
2.5
~6.0x
~42%
3.0x
3.0
~7.0x
~43%
Your hand should realize enough equity at your position to justify the call. OOP calls realize less.
Example decisions
- BTN vs CO open 2.2x: Call KJs/QTs/98s; 3-bet AK/AQ/QQ+; mix A5s as bluff.
- SB vs BTN open 2.3x: 3-bet more (OOP): AQ/TT+ for value; A5s/KTs as bluffs. Tighten flat-calls.
- BB vs small open + caller: Great price → defend suited connectors, pairs, suited aces.
Blockers? Hands with an Ace/King reduce the chance your opponent has a premium → good 3-bet bluffs: A5s–A2s, KTs–KQs.
Common preflop mistakes
- Calling too much out of position (hard postflop spots).
- Random raise sizes each hand (no plan). Use stable sizes.
- Ignoring position (opening too wide UTG, too tight on BTN).
- Small 3-bets OOP (gives cheap calls). Go 3.5–4x.
- Never 3-bet bluffing on BTN/CO (you lose easy folds).
- Isolating limpers too small (they all come along).
Read next
Information only. We do not run games or accept bets. Play safe and within your limits (25+ in Uganda).