There are a number of things you need to consider before you fold in poker. These include how strong your hand is, how strong your opponent’s hand is, and what pot odds are involved. Once you have these factors in mind, you can make an informed decision on whether to fold or call.
Pre-Flopfolding
Those with a sound pre-flop strategy know that it is crucial to fold more than half of their starting hands. In fact, the best players in the world fold around 75 percent of all their preflop starting hands.
The first step to developing a solid pre-flop strategy is to establish a set of hand ranges that you are willing to play from each position at the poker table. This is a critical part of poker etiquette, as it ensures that you are only playing the best hands before the flop.
One of the best ways to do this is to use a preflop hand range chart, such as those available at Upswing Poker. The free hand range charts provide you with a list of hands that you can open raise with from each position at the poker table.
In some situations, you can also determine when to fold based on your opponent’s betting habits. If they are a tight player, you will want to fold more often than when they are an aggressive player. This can help you bluff more effectively and avoid losing more money.
If you have a hand that you believe is weak, you should fold it early before the flop. This is a good rule of thumb, as it will save you time and cash, which can be vital in a game like poker.
The second thing you need to consider when deciding when to fold is the pot odds. This is an important factor because it will allow you to compare your chances of winning with the pot odds. When you are ahead, it is usually worth calling the pot odds and drawing a card, but when you are behind, it may not be wise to call at all.
A third thing to consider when deciding when to fold is your opponent’s bluffing frequency. If you are folding a lot of pots that you should have won, you will become easy to bluff and your opponents will start to realize this, which will erode your win rate.
This can be a very frustrating situation for you, as it is hard to figure out when you should fold and when you should call. But, it’s important to remember that a fold is a critical part of poker and should always be considered.
Post-Flopfolding
If you’re a fan of game theory optimal (GTO) strategy, then you may find it easier to know when to fold post-flop. This is a method that uses your opponent’s range, your hand strength, and the pot odds you are being given to work out how much of your range you should continue with, which can be determined using a formula called Minimum Defense Frequency.