Mastering the Fundamentals: Preflop Strategy 

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Great preflop back to basics video ! Here's an explanation for the 6:30 «mysterious triangle» where 22 beats AKo; AKo beats JTs but JTs beats 22... why ? It's because AKo and JTs will usually get an overpair to beat 22. When you start with 2 offsuited cards, you'll make you hand around 48,7% of the time. Because it's a little bit under 50%, 22 is ahead with a made hand preflop. So why JTs is stronger against the ducks than AKo ? JTs has a lot more potential with the flush as it is suited but also powerful for a straight with cards from 7 to A that can help compared to AK that only has 3 cards available to make its straight. Let's now take a look at AJo and JTs, in this scenario, AKo will generally win with high card only. JTs has to fight harder to win this hand because getting top pait is a lot easier than getting a straight or a flush.

My results definitely improved a lot when I learned that A-low offsuit has VERY limited playability. I only play them now in two situations: 1) Very good preflop odds (in the blinds, no big raisers), looking to pair both cards or hit a set with my low card. 2) Looking to exploit a weak player when I can isolate them and have a solid live read on their range. Otherwise, they are generally negative-value hole cards, usually dominated in any pot worth fighting over, resulting in big losses and small wins.

Recommended by RU-vid after watching Brad Owen. Where's the revenge range?

I followed this exactly, just finished 2nd out of 212 people first try!

I really enjoyed this video. I feel like it instantly helped me tighten up my game all around. Thanks a million

Something to consider about hand strength is that these scenarios only hold up when all the betting is over pre-flop. Yes, 22 is a 52/48 favorite over AK; but ONLY when all in pre-flop! That's because 22 can't usually call a post-flop bet without hitting a set or draw.

I went through the post flop modules today, taking a lot of notes. I'm now playing against bots, using the notes to guide me through each hand. I wish I had done this with The Theory ages ago. Great stuff, Jonathan.

Brilliant! Well-named too as the funadamentals of things are often not simple and nor are they easy to do well. It's lucky that so many poker plays can't be bothered to use this content as it's amazing. Ty

This is one of your best videos. I much prefer this format to your livestream videos, this format is a lot more focused, to the point and filled with great information. I think one of the most frustrating and difficult things to understand as a beginner is playing the right hands preflop. So many times I'd fold J-5o, then the flop would come J-5-2 and I'd be kicking myself. Then in another hand I'd play K-Qs and the flop would come 9-5-4 rainbow. Used to frustrate the hell out of me. Just remember, in the LONG RUN, you're making the right choices, even in in this particular session you would have been better off playing 9-4o than A-Ks.

25:43 Thanks for clarifying 3-bet. I always assumed it was betting 3x the BB, never actually hear anyone define it until now.

playing in a small tournament literally while watching your videos. currently top 3 chip leader with 12 left in a tourney of 250. Don't know if luck but i definitely used your tips lol thanks

This video is still awesome today. Came back to it just for a refresh. Thank you so much Johnathan!

Saw you in the tournament a few days ago and liked your play. Although much of what you were explaining here is wasted on me (I play in Texas and it gets folded to the button once or twice a night) I appreciate your thorough and knowledgeable video lesson. Thanks and better luck in your next tournament since you lost every time someone was all in and still managed second place.

Grew up watching WPT and saw you win in 2005, I think. Glad that RU-vid recommended your channel to me. Can you believe my godfather gave me a Hellmuth poker book when I wanted to play like Negreanu? Ah memories

Yeah my game changed when I realized a few things. I used to play any ace or face and would always pay to see a flop. And I had a hard time folding aces and faces. I never thought about position either. I started thinking as though my opponant has the best hand possible w the board, and started presenting as though I had the best hand possible on the board. I realized that perception is often more important than reality in Poker. Changed everything. What throws me off now is that I play a lot of home games with people who 'don't know how to play" 🤣 Trying to figure out ranges and what they got by how they bet is worthless with people that play random cards and make random bets. Just gotta keep in mind they are as likely to have trash as they are a winning hand, and they don't know how to play either hand right. 🤣 The only real advantage is that they rarely fold if they have anything... pair of 3's and they are going all the way lol. And their bluffs are pretty obvious. But then they play trip 3s the same as a pair of 3s so I been caught a few times thinking my 2 pair was golden. 🤣

Really like your communication in these videos comes accross so well

I found this video interesting, looking forward to trying out what I have learned 👍

Wow I wish you made this video 3 years ago lol great content, alot of dense information in a short, precise style. Thanks so much Johnathon!

Gone through the Cash Games Masterclass twice and still find this content so valuable to watch. I wish I'd watched this first!

Hot damn. I just got into hold ‘em and thought “right I need an awesome video explaining hands preflop” and this was the first video that popped up on my main feed. Didn’t even have to search 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Premium stuff.

Hey guys how are you doing? I have a doubt, when he says at the end of the video that the oponent position makes you play more hands what would be a clear example of that? I ask this because the only example I can visualize is the 3rd one "when you are in position" like I'm in the cutoff agains the button or cuttof agains the big blind 3 bets but I wonder what would be an example of the villain beiing in position and consequently my action of playing more hands?

thank you very much for this video Jon!!!

This is actually gold.

22:50 What about those games where everyone limps in? I find that in small stakes games a lot of player are more likely to just gamble. They wouldn't bet $100 on 10-4o but if they're UTG they might think 'why not, it's only $4 to see the flop.' In a situation like that, where everyone just limps in, what hands should you defend from the SB and BB?

You Brad Owen and Daniel Negranu have made me love poker and taught me so much.

Hi, this truly amazing knowledge, thanking you would be less. Just one request can we get the chart of hands with the position which you showed in the video, please

Great video, love the Excel charts and simple explanations. Going to test this out!

The opening chart for the small blind is more for cashgame and early mtt stage i guess? Is it not better to try and steal the bb more often with a rais instead of calling?

I’m 34 years old and I use to be obsessed with poker from 2003-2009. I haven’t played much poker in the last 10 years but I do watch tons of poker content and I have been using your videos to help me improve. Thanks for the content!

This is so helpful, thanks :)

I just stumbled across these videos. I have been applying this to my game in small stakes cash games and as of this morning I doubled my bank roll ! There is so much I don’t know, thanks for this man, oh and I only found this yesterday

could somebody explain more about black fold section e.g in cutoff vs. bigblind chart ? (black selected pairs)

When talking about the small blind at 22:00 you should also point out you're out of position post flop. Folded to the button is much different than folded to the SB. The SB needs to be careful acting as if they're the button since they're first to act post flop.

So will I use a regular open strategy when there are many limps say 2-3 limps in low stakes? I know I'll open larger but does it change the range of hands I play? Something I've always wondered I normally play a little tighter but will squeeze a lot. Is that correct or? I know there is more money and better pot odds so should I be playing looser? I need to set up a limped pot range. If that's even a thing

Amazing vídeo!!! Tks a lot Boss ✌🏼🍀🤞🏼💯

Basic fit or fold poker. Good stuff and will get you started. Game selection will be critical. A full casino, you got a chance here. A card room, just a good start, still probably not going to win very much.

Thank you!

Thanks for direct training :) and basic strategy

thank yu man for the great content, I just subscreibed to your channel after seeing 3-4 video that were all golden.

Awesome work bro,love from india.

I always think one scenario, which you don't mention, for betting for protection is when you are on a draw, but know if you just check your opponent will likely put in a big bet, forcing you to fold, so you bet say third pot hoping your opponent will just call, so you can see the next card more cheaply in the hope of making your hand. Your opponent may know he has the best hand, but wants you to keep betting into him, so he just calls, and may even check on the turn if he thinks you may bet again, allowing you to see the river cheaply too.

Do ranges loosen up if the table has less players? Like 4 or 5 player tables for example. I could imagine UTG being super tight at 8 people but a little more relaxed at 5 (or u use a diff name i guess so the highjack for 5?)

Hi Jonathan, I have a question for you, are these charts new updated ones ? Because as far as I remember the old ones were much tighter than these. Best Regards your big fan :)

Useful info for beginners. The only thing I disagree with is never open limping. I agree limping usually isn’t the correct strategy, but there are instances when it is. If you are in early position preflop and have a playable, yet not premium starting hand, limping is often a good idea in that spot for pot control, and minimal investment should there be an open and a 3 bet... possibly even a 4 bet behind. Then it’s an easy fold with it only costing you a BB for limping in early position. The other time I would suggest it is if you have a premium starting hand in early position, and you are at a table where players are playing very aggressive and you are pretty certain there will be some raising behind. Then you can come over the top to thin the filed and protect your equity. The only down side in that situation is you will be playing the hand out of position post flop, so I would only recommend this strategy for more skilled players. Playing your hand properly preflop is the most important thing you can do, IMO. The more hands you’re up against post flop, the more dangerous it becomes even if you make a very strong hand, because with a lot of other players also in the hand, the odds are more likely that someone is still redrawing to an even bigger hand, which makes pot control much more difficult, as you are then almost forced into playing a bigger pot to protect your equity.

If you're playing in a loose passive game do you think there is more value in open raising your stronger hands, 9s plus and bigger aces, to a higher amount? 4-8bbs? Or should you stay consistent to 2.5-3x and allow more limpers?

Is there a printable version of these charts that I could find? Thanks so much! Great vid

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.

great content

Thanks for your video! Where can I find, the Everyone Folds to you Charts?

You make me wish COVID restrictions were lifted already and we could all go gamble! I love it, great content. 👍🏽

for the slides starting 16 min in. Says to play only the hands in the charts, when everyone folds to you. for example if I have 77 in the LJ position. UTG +1 calls the big blind. Do I just fold or call? Thanks

Appreciate the content but the charts are hard to read in 360p

This is great- thanks!

This is a great video. Thanks.

Hey man I plan to enter my first poker tourney it’s a 120 euro buy in… any tips as to how I should prepare for this tourney or should I go in just looking for an experience… I have been watching a few of your videos and creating flashcards in attempt to remember the pre flip charts and what to do in certain situations is there anything else I should do before playing?

Hello John, thank for your videos. I have a question: in other video you upload 2 years ago the chart it is different. Why?

Is it a fish concept to bet to set your own price? For example if you check your opponent might bet 50% but if you bet 35% , you force him to either call 35% or raise to 70% when your opponent has a hand that could make a 50% pot bet but not a 70% percent pot bet etc

I always thought that 3bet/4bet are related to the size or the raise :D :D :D Love the contents. Great vids and thanks for them :)

I'd be curious what the hypothesis would be to chopping if everyone folds to small blind. I always agree to just chop in those situations b/c it's essentially a 50/50 proposition...

I had a question regarding opening hand ranges. Is your theory based on having something like 50bb for opening hands or more? What about shorter stack sizes...I assume around 20bb then its getting more into reshove strategies but are opening ranges still the same especially against other 20bb stacks? I am talking mostly about MTTs Thanks

Would you reccomend pokermoose or simlar to follow preflop?

Hi there, why isn't there a situation in the layout where you just call to the big blind in the Preflop Scenarios? From UTG to the Button there are only 'raise' and 'fold' options but I find it hard to believe that there aren't any calling ranges preflop, right? Very useful information tho!!

Amazing content as an intermediary player

Which playlist should I watch if I want more of these videos because even tho I’m only 16 I still wanna be prepared I think I know my way around the rules pretty well except for re-raising but I want to learn about the more in depth stuff like pre flop and after flop gameplay and best and worst hands and stuff like calculations and ranges

Nice vid dude!

Full of useful information

will the everyone folds to you chart at 16:05 work if there isnt an utg+1 or utg+2? or will the chart look different?

I thought I knew how to play poker before I watched

Very helpful content

When deciding if one starting hand is better than the other, always pic the one with higher ev over equity

Thanks Jonathan.

I really like how thoroughly you covered this stuff. However you didn't address 2 scenarios. 1) When people limped before you, and 2) when there was at least one raise before you.

Does this also work when you are playing with players who play sub optimally and dont raise on e.g. AK?

Hello, few questions. 1. So on the chart "when everyone folds to you" is there no big blind chart? 2. How do you know your position once people start getting out and leaving the table? Once you have 4 people instead of 9 how do you know what positions are left and what position you are?

great video, I just want to ask in 30:26 why you have to bluff particularly with K4s and not with K5s for example

Hi JL. Excellent content. New sub here👍

Thank you so much

excellent, thank you

19:40 - Haha, tell Doyle Brunson that.

Okay I have a question here. At 29:42 - why would you 4 bet for value with AQo but call with AQs???? I might have had a lapse in attention and missed something, but I would think you could 4 bet with a suited premium hand vs calling with offsuit.

Did I understand correctly that you can always use the table for the CutOFF, since you are the first one preflop? And how does the strategy change when playing with fewer players?

I'm gonna give myself an aneurism trying to figure out why 76s is a good starting hand under the gun +2 and 87s is not.

He has some good advice,just like playing weak aces ,like he said you are going to run into trouble, probably your chips going to someone with ace king

I just cannot bring myself to fold AJs UTG. Anyone else?

Beginner poker content doesn’t need “Whenever everyone folds to you”. What we need is “when everyone limps to you” 😂

Does this imply then that you never call under the gun? You always just fold or raise?

Can anyone explain why at 30:24 the cutoff vs. button 3bet range includes A7s as a bluff rather than A6s?

Is that content about MTT or Cash?

Hi! I started this course on the website but all of a sudden I can't see the videos or the quizzes anymore. Does anyone know how this can be solved?

Hello, this is an awesome video. I'm trying to get the free course throught the link in the comments but seems like it goes to a dead page.

If you guys get to the point where you’re so good no one calls you (1 hour at the same table with big hands) start playing j6 or K7 more often but still on the button or near it. Play them like you would a ak or Aq so you can snag the two pair when people will think you have the top pair with weak kicker or missed flush when they pay you off with Ak

you are the best

Link for the course doesn’t work anymore :( also how can I get these graphs? Super helpful!!!!

thanks johnathan!!

What do you do a table where everyone limps almost all but the best hands, and limp behind others. I always read that you should never open limp and that you should raise against limpers, but what about when you are in late position behind everyone who limps? Are there times you should just call and see flops or should you just never limp?

Instructions unclear, went allin blind preflop.

In Cutoff vs Button 3-bet chart: - K5s = fold; K4s = bluff. Why's that?How is K5s in this case not worth bluffing while K4s is?

I am a beginner and I have some trouble understanding post flop play. Any tips on books, videos?

Are the opening hand ranges for full ring or 6 Max?