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How often do pro poker players fold?

In Texas Hold'em, the best poker players fold 75 percent or more of all starting hands before the betting even begins.

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The ability to fold marks one of the most important aspects of a winning poker strategy. In Texas Hold’em, playing too many hands preflop, or moving forward with too many marginal hands post-flop, can end up as a major detriment to your win rate. Knowing when to fold in poker is arguably the most critical skill in the game. The world’s best players know this, and fold often.

When to Fold Before the Flop

In Texas Hold’em, the best poker players fold 75 percent or more of all starting hands before the betting even begins. A fundamentally sound preflop strategy sets you up for success in all subsequent betting rounds. Even the loosest preflop players (if they’re winning players) fold before the flop around 70 percent of the time. To figure out when to fold before the flop, you need to establish a set of hand ranges that you’re willing to play from each position at the poker table. Hand range charts (like the Upswing Poker free preflop charts) represent the best way to establish a solid preflop strategy. Preflop hand range charts dictate what hands to open raise with from each position, as well as which hands to call or raise with against a player who has bet before you get to act. A good starting hand chart will have you doing a lot of folding preflop. A good preflop strategy involves playing tighter in early position, then adding more starting hands to your range in the later positions. Premium hands, like pocket aces, kings, queens, and ace-king, can be open raised from any position. As you get closer to the button, you can add more hands like low suited connectors (5♠ 4♠, 9♥ 7♥) or small pairs like pocket threes and twos.

When to Fold After the Flop

Once the flop hits the board, the game dynamic from the preflop round completely changes. Getting too attached to a hand in certain situations can spell disaster, as the pots can escalate dramatically after preflop play.

Signs that you should fold facing a postflop bet include:

When your preflop hand isn’t strong after the flop

When a player who never bluffs is betting big

When you’ve played a pocket pair preflop, and two or more overcards hit the board

When you have no pair or drawing potential with your hand post-flop

When you do have drawing potential, but don’t have the right pot odds to call

When a very tight player is betting or raising big

The world’s best poker players find their way to the highest stakes by folding in the right spots. You’ll need to do the same to work your way up in poker stakes.

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It's your money, in your account, but that doesn't mean you can take it out any way you please. Failure to report large cash transactions can often trigger federal investigations, leading to fines or even lengthy prison sentences. It all stems from U.S. law that requires forms to be submitted—both by financial institutions, as well as bank customers—each time a cash transaction in excess of $10,000 occurs. Customers hoping to avoid having to disclose such transactions often seek ways around around the law in a process known as "structuring," which can lead to serious money laundering charges. Read More What do Toyota and Madoff have in common?

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