danl2005 said:
Here is the order of starting hands.
As with most things in poker, the rank of starting hands depends upon whose book you're reading. There are actually a few different rankings based upon whatever "formula for success" the "expert" is touting. And personal preference has a role as well. I belong to the "best dealt cards at the time" school of thought, as opposed to the "percentages of improvement" devotees. Because whenever it's your turn to bet, the first question that should cross your mind is, "Do I have the best hand RIGHT NOW?". That's why my very personal opinion is that ANY starting pair is better than ANY two single cards, regardless of rank. Call it simple poker for a simple mind.
Don't buy that? Try this very simple, and only marginally scientific, experiment. Remove an unsuited Ace and King from the deck and lay them down for one starting hand. Remove a small pair (22, 33, 44) from the deck and lay them down for the other starting hand. If you like, deal out some other blank starters to represent as full a ring as you want. Deal the flop, river, and turn. Shuffle and repeat ten, twenty, thirty times...whatever. The more, the better. Now, how did the big singles do against the baby pairs? Hmmmm...interesting.
There are many who disagree, as evidenced by some of the lively discussions we've had on this very subject. :dontknow: