Five pre-flop questions worth asking

Pre-flop decisions shape the later streets. They are also easy to oversimplify into rules that ignore the actual hand. When reviewing a spot, record the format and the information you had before an action. Then ask these five questions.

1. Where are you positioned?

Position changes who acts after you and what information is available. Compare the same holding from early position, the button, and the blinds rather than treating it as one universal decision.

2. What action has already happened?

An unopened pot, a raise, and a raise followed by a call are different situations. Note the size of each action and who is still to act. This helps you compare plausible folds, calls, and raises in the right context.

3. How deep are the effective stacks?

The shorter of the stacks that can be involved in a hand limits what can be won or lost. A line that makes sense deep may need to be reconsidered with fewer chips behind.

4. Does your sizing tell a consistent story?

Look at how your chosen size relates to the pot, stack depth, and earlier actions. Avoid judging it only by whether you won that particular hand. If you vary sizes, be able to explain what changes in the situation justify the difference.

5. What are you assuming about the game?

Rake, antes, tournament payouts, and opponent tendencies can matter. Mark assumptions you cannot verify. An attractive chart is a starting reference, not a substitute for the details of your own spot.

For practice, pick one hand and write down the information available at the decision point. Compare two plausible actions and explain what evidence would favor each. Results cannot, by themselves, prove that an earlier choice was correct.