Preflop is the first betting round in poker variations with community cards (for example, Hold’em or Omaha). Preflop starts right after the players get pocket cards and the community cards (cards of the flop) aren’t revealed yet.

Before the cards are dealt two players make obligatory blind bets: post big blind and small blind. Those bets form the pot to compete for preflop. During this betting round players decide what to do with their pocket cards: players could enter the hand or make a fold and look for what’s happening from the outside of the hand. The player to the left of the big blind makes a decision first on preflop. The last one who has to make a decision in the preflop betting round is the player on the big blind.

The players take into account their pocket cards, position at the table and the actions of other players in making the decisions on preflop.

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