poker: how many hands should I play pre flop

It is not about winning pots, it is about winning money.

I would rather keep throwing hands away pre-flop and on the flop for an hour or two and then get that killer hand that wins me an opponents bankroll then win a series of small pots.

If you are just winning a lot of small pots then you are probably seeing too many flops and those small pots eventually all get put back into the pot when you call to see the flops.

The accepted flop percentage for a player to see at a full table is between 15% and 25% depending on table dynamics and the player’s individual players. I vary my play throughout a session so I play tight at the beginning to see who is doing what and how I can take advantage of it.

Later, I will loosen up, take advantage of my tight image and try to steal a few pots until I get called on it. After that your opponent will not know what type of a hand you have.

This works best if you had been stealing some pots and then someone calls you on it but you actually have a hand to show them down with. It is an excellent meta-strategy.

After that big showdown most players will be weary about challenging you and you may be able to steal pots again, but your opponents will also have better than average hands if they play back.