Poker concept

What is Preflop in Poker? Definition & Examples

Here's a clear definition with real-hand context, plus how it connects to the rest of your strategy.

Quick answer

Preflop — The betting round before any community cards are dealt.

In more detail

Preflop is governed almost entirely by hand selection, position, and stack depth. The preflop charts cover every spot.

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Preflop charts

Common questions

What does Preflop mean in poker?

Preflop is governed almost entirely by hand selection, position, and stack depth. The preflop charts cover every spot.

What's the fastest way to calculate Preflop at the table?

Use our Preflop charts — it runs entirely in your browser, free, no signup.

Related terms

Action
Your turn to act, or the overall betting activity in a hand.
Bad Beat
Losing a hand where you were a heavy statistical favorite.
Board
The community cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table.
Cooler
A hand where two players have very strong holdings — unavoidable losses happen.

New to poker? Start with our preflop strategy guide and the free TAG cheatsheet.