poker strategy
  • Home
  • Poker Coach
  • Contact
  • Odds Calculator
  • Software
  • Poker News
  • Links
  • Holdem Basics
  • How to Play
  • Texas Holdem Terms
  • What Beats What
  • 10 Best Poker Hands
  • Holdem Nicknames
  • Holdem Etiquette
  • Holdem Cheating
  • Holdem Strategy
  • THP Strategies
  • Patience in Poker
  • Cash Games Strategy
  • Short Stack Poker
  • Sit N Go Strategy
  • Tournament Strategy
  • Heads Up Strategy
  • Ace-King Strategy
  • Poker Position
  • Playing Over Cards
  • Betting Strategies
  • Bluffing
  • Holdem Math
  • Calculate Pot Odds
  • Understanding EV
  • Poker Probabilities
  • Holdem Money
  • Holdem Bankroll
  • Build Bankroll
  • Holdem Psychology
  • Common Tells
  • Reading Your Opponents
  • Playing on Tilt
  • Laying Down the Best Hand
  • Table Image
  • 10 Costly Mistakes
  • Holdem Videos
  • 1978 WSOP
  • 1989 WSOP
  • 1997 WSOP
  • Famous Poker Players
  • Holdem Products
  • Newsletter
  • Online Poker Tools
  • Poker Room Reviews
  • Best Poker Books
  • Movies About Poker
  • Discount Poker Chips
  • TH Poker Tables

Texas Hold em Starting Hands

Good poker players are selective about their Texas Hold em starting hands. However, if you are not familiar with what beats what in poker, you should do a refresher before going any further.

The foremost requirement to becoming a dominant poker player is to tighten up at the poker table, which means being selective about the 10 best starting poker hands you play.

When playing Holdem remember: You can't play em all!

TIGHT IS RIGHT

At the Holdem table folding should become as natural as breathing. Should be folding 4 out of 5 hands pre-flop. Quite possibly you should fold 2 out of 3 hands on the flop. The stats of a tight aggressive player should reflect something like this..

  • 19-23% of the flop seen.
  • 6-8% of all hands won.
  • 30% when seeing the flop.
  • 80-95% showdowns won.

Most online poker rooms provide stats, be sure to visit the stats section of your account.

POSITION IS POWER

Position at the poker table is strategically important when playing Texas Hold em starting hands. Whenever you decide play specific poker starting hands, you should consider your position at the table.
  • In early position only play the top poker starting hands, especially if there are many aggressive players to follow afterwards.
Early position gives the player an information disadvantage.
  • Late position gives the player the advantage, since he can view how his opponents will act before playing a hand.
Late position gives the player an information advantage.

BEST STARTING POKER HANDS

There are 169 Texas Holdem starting hands and half of them are unplayable. The list found below is an easy to read top poker starting hands guide as to which poker hands you should play and for situations which require tight aggressive play.

  • The hands listed in bold green comprise the top 10 hands, and can be raised and re-raised in any position.
  • The hands listed in green can be called in early position, and raised in middle and late position.
  • The hands listed in red can be called in middle or late position.
  • The hands listed in black should be called in late position only.
Texas Hold em Starting Hands
A = Ace, K = King, Q = Queen, J = Jack, T = Ten, 2-9 = Card value, x = Unknown card, s = Suited
Pocket Pair - These have high pair, trips (set), full house, or four of a kind possibilities. Raise and reraise with high pairs.
AA KK QQ JJ TT 99 88 77 66 55 44 33 22
Ax, Kx, Qx, Jx, and Tx Suited - These have high pair, trips, flush, straight and straight flush possibilities. Any Ace, King or Queen suited can be played for flush possibilities, depending on position.
AKs AQs AJs ATs A9s A8s A7s A6s A5s A4s A3s A2s
KQs KJs KTs K9s K8s K7s K6s K5s K4s K3s K2s
QJs QTs Q9s Q8s Q7s Q6s Q5s Q4s Q3s Q2s
JTs J9s J8s J7s J6s J5s
T9s T8s T7s T6s
Ax, Kx, Qx, Jx, Tx Unsuited - These have high pair or straight possibilities. Generally, only play unsuited cards with a combined value of 21 or higher.
AK AQ AJ A10 A9
KQ KJ KT K9
JT J9
T9
9x and Lower Suited - Two suited cards that are consecutive (suited connectors) or one-gapped can potentially be played. These have mostly flush or straight possibilities.
98s 97s 96s
87s 86s 85s
76s 75s
65s 64s
54s 53s
43s
Bold = Raise and reraise. Green = Call early, raise middle and late. Red = Call middle and late. Black = Call late only.


CHUCK THE JUNK

Any of the starting hands in poker not listed above should be folded. There are couple of things to keep in mind:

  • Patience which is key to winning should be a part of your strategies for Texas holdem poker.
  • Any of the Texas Hold em starting hands can be beaten.
  • Fold if the hand does not improve and another player represents a better hand.

Exit Texas Hold em Starting Handsarrow Home Page.

Disclaimer | Contact Us | Links | Site Map

© 2007-2008 Learn to Win Holdem.com. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy