The Importance Of Pre Flop Raising

The first advice i’d give to any holdem poker player is if you’re going to play with a hand, raise with it pre flop. This simple but powerful advice is the thing that was most responsible for improving my game ever. Here are some of the reasons why you should always raise pre flop.

1. It Shows Strength

By raising pre flop you’re indicating that you have a strong hand and instilling fear into your opponents. This gives you the opportunity to bluff further into the hand and be believed.

2. It Defines Your Opponents Hand Range

By raising pre flop it’s very likely that only opponents with strong starting hands will call you. This makes it far easier to predict what your opponents have. It also gets rid of limpers who would like to see a cheap or free flop with poor hands such as 5, 3. This is very important, as if you let a few opponents limp in, and the flop comes 3, 4, 7, and somebody starts raising, can you be sure that they haven’t made two pairs, a straight, or even an open ended straight draw with their rags? If you’d raised pre flop to get rid of weak hands, that’d be a safe flop to make a continuation bet on.

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3. You Get More Callers When You Make A Good Hand

If your opponents get used to you raising pre flop and making continuation bets, they are alot more likely to call you than if you are the type of player who never raises pre flop and always folds when you don’t hit anything, then suddenly raises. That’s a sure fire way to scare your opponents away and never get paid off with your good hands.

4. Only Raising Pre Flop Keeps Your Starting Hand Range Stricter

This is basic yet profound. How many times have you found yourself saying “I’ll just limp in with this to see what comes on the flop”. That’s a guaranteed way to loose money in poker. By making yourself adhere to the raise or fold rule pre flop, you’ll only ever put your money in when the cards/position/situation are in your favour.