Early choices in Texas Hold’em usually mean more than later ones because of their impact on subsequent decisions. Whenever you make an incorrect move up front, you run the risk of rendering each subsequent decision incorrect as well. Thatʹs why your choice of starting hands is usually much more critical than how you play on future betting rounds.

• Pre‐flop: The person with the best two hole cards is most likely to win at showdown.
• After the flop: The player currently holding the best five‐card hand is most likely to win at showdown.
• After the turn card is dealt: The player currently holding the best five‐card hand is most likely to win at showdown.
• After the river card is dealt: The player currently holding the best five‐card hand has won at showdown.

What have we learned from this? The value of your present cards is always much greater than the expected value. If your opponent has you beat now and you know it, calling heavily for a card to come is not tight play. Evaluating the hands of your opponents will only help your game if it helps you to avoid unreasonable risk.