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What to Do Before the Flop in Texas Hold'em
Sometimes the best way to deal with a conflict is to simply avoid fighting. Had Napoleon decided to find something else to do besides invading Russia, the official language of Europe may be French. This same idea works in the game of Texas Hold'em and figures heavily into what you do before the flop.
Before the dealer flops the first three community cards, even before you are dealt your two hole cards, it is very important that you are mentally in a place to fold any hand that doesn't stand a good chance of competing. When you are dealt a starting hand, and are given a AA, KK, QQ, JJ, or AK, this is basically a green light for aggressive play. Raise early, raise often, raise aggressively. The reason you are doing this is that you want to get the most value out of your premium cards. Anything can happen on the flop, and three low cards showing up on the board will effectively neuter your strong Hole Cards. You want to raise to convince others that you not only have a strong hand, but also that it will cost them dearly to stay in the hand. You don't want other players hanging around with drawing hands when you can still be beaten. You are raising to get them out of the hand, so that you and your overcards can sail on to an easy victory.
If a pair of tens, 9-9, A-Q, or K-Q, make up your starting hand, proceed, but do so with caution. Call instead of raising, and if seeing the flop becomes an expensive proposition, fold your hand. These starting cards work best with in shorthanded games. In reality, these cards wont have any real value until you see the board.
Any hand lower then the ones mentioned above are something you play only if Dr. Kevorkian is your personal physician. If the dealer has given you a 55, 44, 33, 22 just simply give up.
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