February 19, 2026
Street 1 foundations: start with your bottom plan
A practical checklist to avoid overcommitting your top row too early in Pineapple OFC.
Street 1 is where long-term EV is won or lost.
1) Secure bottom flexibility first
When possible, build your bottom row around connected ranks and suit potential. A bottom that can become only one hand class is fragile.
2) Do not force top pairs too early
A quick top pair can feel safe, but it often blocks middle and bottom strength. Keep your top row open unless your draw context is extremely favorable.
3) Think in board order, not card quality
The best single card is not always the best placement. Every decision must preserve: bottom >= middle >= top at showdown.
4) Review your foul candidates
After each placement, ask: “What future card patterns now foul me most often?” If the answer expands too much, rebalance now.