How to Play Before the Flop (No-Limit Short & Mid Stack Strategy)

1- What is your position?

Your position refers to where you are seated in relation to the dealer and tells you when it will be your turn to act. The more players left to act between you and the dealer during the betting round (counted clockwise), the earlier your position and the sooner you have to act.
The four position groups at a 10-seat table

There are four position groups at a 10-seat table: 3 early positions, 3 middle positions, 2 late positions and 2 blinds.



2- Which hands should you play?
The Starting Hands Chart

You will find your entire pre-flop strategy in the Starting Hands Chart. This chart shows you how to play a given hand in a given situation. This may be confusing at first, but don't worry. We will explain how to use the chart, and once you've understood it, you'll see how valuable it can be.



If no one has raised before you...

If no player has raised before you, your position becomes decisive. Look at this section in the chart and then look for the row corresponding to your position. If you see your hand listed in that row, you raise. If you don't see your hand listed in that row, you fold.