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When to Fold in Poker

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When to Fold in Poker

Experience has taught us that picking the right moment to fold is a necessary skill in poker. When you fold, you give up your hand and your chance of winning the pot. But that shouldn’t put you off! In many circumstances, folding, correctly, in poker might be the smartest move. Keep reading for insights into the right and wrong times to fold in poker.

Why Folding Is an Essential Part of Poker Strategy

Understanding when to call and fold in poker is an integral part of any winning poker tactic, as it allows you to cut your losses and preserve your stack. A skilled player knows when to stop chasing an unlikely win at the table and risk more poker chips.

Moreover, folding can also be used as an effective method of psychological manipulation. You can trick your opponents into thinking you’re unsure of your next move by folding at critical moments, allowing you to bluff, call, or raise them when they least expect it.

Knowing Which Hands to Fold and When

Not all dealt pairs of cards are good hands, and sometimes it’s better to save your chips for the next round. Knowing what hands to fold in poker, and when the best time is to do so, is key to a successful strategy. Here we give a breakdown of the most important pre-flop and post-flop folding opportunities to know before playing on the best poker sites:

Mediocre Starting Hands to Fold Pre-Flop

The best opening hands don’t always turn out to be winning ones. Did you know that even top poker players fold most of their weak starting hands before betting starts? Knowing when to fold in the poker pre-flop can give you an advantage over your opponents. 

In Texas hold’em, for example, you should fold before betting if your hole cards total six or fewer, unless they’re a pair or an ace of the same suit. Also, if your hand contains a seven, eight, or nine and it’s not paired, a suited ace, or consecutively suited, you’re likely better off folding. Here’s why:

  • With hands like 3-2 or 7-2, the odds of creating a winning combination are slim. Folding these hands immediately helps you avoid unnecessary losses.
  • Success often comes down to playing the odds, and the odds aren’t in your favor with low-value hands. Folding them pre-flop is a logical choice based on poker math.
  • Consistently folding weak hands pre-flop is a long-term strategy that can lead to more sustainable play, allowing you to stay in the game longer to see more favorable hands.

Strategic Folding After the Flop, Turn, and River

In poker, the flop often changes everything, as the game’s dynamic can shift drastically from pre-flop. For instance, if your pre-flop hand loses its appeal after the flop, folding can help you avoid escalating losses. 

Similarly, on the turn and river, if your playable poker hands are weak or if the board develops in a way that favors your opponents, folding can prevent major losses. Here are some more specific scenarios when you should consider folding:

  • If the flop brings overcards against your pocket pair, it’s often safer to fold.
  • If your hand doesn’t improve post-flop and others are likely to have stronger hands, folding might be your best bet to avoid losing chips.
  • If you’re clinging to a marginal hand, like an underpair or a gutshot straight draw, and the turn card doesn’t boost your odds, folding might save you from bigger losses, especially if opponents show strength.
  • If you have a middle pair or a hand of similar strength and the river provides opportunities for straight or flushes, it’s usually safer to fold rather than challenge a likely better hand.

Times When You Shouldn't Fold in Poker

There are occasions when you should avoid folding. Refer to poker hand charts for guidance and consider the following scenarios.

Strong Pre-Flop Hands You Shouldn’t Fold

In a suited card game like Texas or Omaha hold’em, holding a pair or two of a kind before the flop is almost always the best starting hand. So, keep in mind that you should almost never fold hands that are strong opening cards because doing so can cost you a lot of money. These include:

  • Pocket aces and kings: Top-tier hands that warrant staying in the game almost every time. Aces, or pocket rockets, are the best starting Texas hold’em hands.
  • Pocket queens, jacks, and sevens: Strong hands that often lead pre-flop play.
  • Ace-king and ace-queen suited: Great for flush and straight potential.
  • Eight-seven suited: While not a premium hand, its potential for flushes and straights makes it a hand worth considering.

Matching Hand with Community Cards

It’s generally not advisable to fold when your hand aligns well with the cards on the flop, turn, or river. So, when the community cards go well with your hand, consider holding:

  • Top two pair: If you have a monster hand in Texas hold’em, such as A-K, and the flop is A-K-3, it’s not a good idea to fold. You should even consider raising the bet.
  • Strong draws post-flop: If the flop significantly strengthens your hand, like creating a top pair from a high-value hole card, it’s usually worth continuing. Also, should the turn or river card upgrade your hand, perhaps by completing a straight or flush, it signals a good opportunity to stay in the hand.

Before Seeing Opponents’ Cards at the Showdown

Folding can be a misstep at the showdown, especially when the outcome is still uncertain. Sometimes, a hand that appears weak could be a dark horse, especially if the opponents’ hands are still a mystery. Hold off on folding until all cards are on the table.

Top Folding Tips for Online Poker

In poker, deciding to fold hinges on assessing your opponents’ behavior, evaluating your hand’s strength, and understanding the pot odds. The basics of folding in online poker mirror those of live games, but there are several tips you should take into account:

  • Read your opponent’s style: Start by analyzing your opponent and how they have played their previous hands. Do their actions show confidence or caution? This can be a big tell on whether you should fold or hold. Reading your opponents in online poker might be more challenging because there are no physical tells like in land-based casinos.
  • Know your hand’s value: Take a hard look at your hand. Is it strong enough to compete, or is it time to back down? Remember, folding a weak hand early can be a smart move.
  • Consider pot odds: Weigh the pot odds against the size of the bet. Online poker software typically calculates the pot odds automatically and saves you time. If the numbers don’t add up in your favor, folding could be the most logical step.
  • Be prepared to act quickly: While live dealer poker games mimic the pace of real-life poker, regular online poker betting typically moves much faster than these live versions. Expect to make a decision in seconds and be prepared to fold if necessary. If you take too long, your hand will be folded automatically.
  • Avoid overcommitting to a single hand: Don’t get too attached to any hand, no matter how good it looks at first. Remember that even a powerhouse like pocket aces can fail you; you’ll lose 10 to 15 times out of every 100 times dealt. It’s all about being flexible based on the flow of the game rather than just your hand.
  • Be cautious when multitabling: Multitabling is common in online poker, but it comes with some serious risks. It’s easy to get into the habit of folding hands without giving them the full consideration they need when you’re playing many tables at once.

Ace Your Poker Play by Knowing When to Fold

In poker, the real skill lies not just in playing the right hands, but in folding the wrong ones. Knowing when to fold shapes you into a sharper player who’s able to navigate the game’s intricacies and odds. With practice, you’ll learn exactly which poker hands to fold and which to keep. So, hit the poker tables and get ready for the next round with this ace up your sleeve!

Folding in Poker FAQ

Hero folding is when you make the bold move to fold a hand that’s usually a sure bet, driven by a gut feeling that your opponent has an even stronger hand.

No, it’s generally considered bad poker manners to fold before it’s your turn. Just putting your cards face down discreetly and saying that you fold will let everyone know about your decision. However, in online poker, you often have the option to fold as soon as you see your cards.

Here’s when it’s a good idea: 

  • When you’re almost certain your hand is the weakest and you’re facing a bet.
  • If improving your hand seems unlikely and the pot odds aren’t in your favor.
  • If you’re not the final player to bet and think that future bets might get too expensive.
  • If you’re unsure about where your hand stands and there’s a big bet to call.

You might be surprised to learn that many professional poker players fold around 70–80% of their pre-flop hands. They focus on playing fewer but more strategically advantageous hands.