Poker: Starting Hands

The first thing a Holdem player should learn is which cards are worth playing, and which should be folded. Many beginning players stay in a hand with cards that have little or no future, and it ends up showing in there chip count. Remember that no two cards alone can be unbeatable, and once the flop falls things that once looked good may no longer be worth pursuing. Still, to give yourself the best chance to succeed, play only the premium hands.

The best starting hands are:

• Large Pairs - Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks. Even pairs of tens and nines and eights are high quality starting hands. Play them.
• Aces with suited High Cards - When you get an Ace with a K,Q,J, or even a ten, many good things can happen. You already have high card. If a flush comes, you'll have the best possible one because of your ace. High straights, and even a straight flush is possible with these cards. Play them.
• Suited Faces Cards and Tens - While it's nicer to have an ace in the hole, suited face cards are playable hands. They hold a lot of potential including high pair with a strong kicker, straights, and flushes.
• Aces with unsuited High Cards - Aces with an unsuited partner can still give you top pair with a high kicker, or a high straight. Because other players may also have an ace, the strength of the second card in your hand is important. If two players tie, that second card, or 'kicker' will decide the winner. This is why A-10 is a playable hand, and A-6 is not. (A-10 can also turn into a high straight). So while aces are highly sought after, do not feel the need to play every hand in which you are dealt an ace.
• King with Face Card - A King with a Queen, or with a Jack is a playable hand. But, it is not as strong as you may think. Still, two face cards rank high enough that seeing the flop is often a good idea.

These are the strongest starting hands in a Texas Holdem game. Other hands are playable depending on the circumstances at the table, but beginners may want to stick to playing only these premium hands until they understand the game more fully. Playing these hands will not guarantee that you will be a winner. Poker doesn't work that way. Even pairs of Aces get beaten. But, if you want to win a pot, finding any of the cards listed on the chart in your hand is a good place to start.

Written and Contributed By Robert Marinelli
Copyright ©2004 - 2005.

While I agree with most of what you say i think i disagree on a few things. Let me start by saying the kind of starting hands you can play can't really be put into a black and white category there are far too many variables but i will say that, assuming there are at least seven players there are ten hands that always play, another five that usually play and then there are more situational hands that can be played in certain circumstances. The top ten hands, in order of my opinion only are AA, KK,QQ,AK, JJ,10 10,AQ, 99, AJs, and 88. These hands are almost always worth opening with pre- flop. Most of the time if you can catch a cheap flop it is also good to play small pairs. If your in a game where alot of players see the flop AXs is usually good too limp in from late possition, and I play suited connectors higher than three in much the same way as AXs. It is great for beginners to have rigid guidlines of which hands to play, but eventually you need to start looking at the situational power of each hand. There are seven players that all just called a raise and you're in middle possition would you really rather have JJ than AXs, I wouldn't. High cards and big pairs are most profitable against one or two opponents while drawing hands are best with more players.

I already replied but i forgot to include my biggest problem with your starting hand requirements. Now it does depend on how many people your playing with but in a game with 6 players plus, i would be very reluctant to get involved with a king high hand despite the kicker. The reason is the only way you will get any action with this hand after the flop is when you're beat, generally speaking. Most good players don't play King high so the only way a player is going to call your bet when a king flops is usually going to be when he has an ace to go with it. You will usually only win small pots with king high but you could stand to lose a great deal more when you do flop a king and are dominated. Try replacing KJ with 27o in some king high flop examples and see how little difference there is in the power of the hands. Anyone with no king won't call and anyone who calls has you beat.

Although it may seem dumb, it is a good idea to see the flop with low pocket pairs if it is farely cheap.

I agree. A8 or greater at a big table is a strong enough hand to play from middle position on. You can count on other at least one other Ace out there but chances are you are high. Not goin' all in with it though. Unless it's tourney play and I'm short stack.

I also like to see a cheap flop with low pocket pairs, but I will only do it in middle or late position. I want to get value and I will get nothing if someone makes a re-raise behind me.

LOL i have found out ym fav hand is 10,j dont kno why just always good things happen. but yes i agree that anything lower than 88. mite not want to be played

I agree. I usually raise in late position and call early. Having low pair can either be very good or very bad. I havent found that "happy medium" with 22-88 yet!