Knowing when to fold is just as crucial in poker as knowing when to bet. If you hold a weak hand, it’s often better to fold and save your chips than risk losing them all. In this guide, we’ll teach you the basics of when to fold in poker, including some of the most common situations you’ll encounter during a game. Also, check out tips on how to increase your chances of winning in poker to learn more strategies.

You Are Priced Out of Your Draw

One of the most common situations you should fold is when you are priced out of your draw. This means that the amount of money required to stay in hand (i.e., see the next card) is greater than the pot odds you are getting. For example, let’s say there is $100 in the pot, and the player to your right bets $20. To see the next card, you would have to call $20.

You Hold Less Than the Nuts

The “nuts” is the best hand possible given the current board. For example, if two clubs are on the board and you have two more in your hand, you have the “nut flush.” In general, you should only stay in a hand if you have the nut hand or a good chance of making the nut hand. If you don’t, you should fold because the chances of winning are slim.

You Have a Tight Image

Your “image” is how other players perceive you. Players will assume you only play strong hands if you have a tight image. As such, they may be less likely to bluff when you bet or raise, which means you have a better chance of winning the hand. On the other hand, if you have a loose image, players will be more likely to call your bets even when you don’t have a strong hand.

Your Preflop Hand Is Trash

There are some hands that you should never play, regardless of your position or the pot size. These are known as “trash” or “garbage” hands, and they include things like off-suit cards below seven (e.g., two deuces), suited connectors below ten (e.g., eight-nine of clubs), and so on. If you’re dealt one of these hands, it’s usually best to fold preflop and wait for a better opportunity. Knowing when to fold is just as crucial in poker as knowing when to bet. If you hold a weak hand, it’s often better to fold and save your chips than risk losing them all. In this guide, we’ve taught you the basics of when to fold in poker. Thanks for reading.…