Although strong Ace hands that aren’t AK can be worth playing some players fall into the trap of playing any hand with an Ace. Trouble starting hands for novice players are A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7, A-8, and A-9. If another opponent also has an ace with a better kicker, than you only have 3 outs to make a better online pokerhand.
- Strongest Starting Hands In Texas Holdemas Hold Em
- Strongest Starting Hands In Texas Holdem Tournaments
- Strongest Starting Hands In Texas Holdemem
What are the best starting hands in poker Crazy Pineapple Poker? This question is not as easy to answer as in Texas Hold’em, where AA, KK and QQ are the strongest hole cards. In Texas Hold’em there are “only” 169 different starting hands from the 52 x 51 / 2 = 1326 possible combinations of hole cards.
AA – Aces
Pocket aces, the strongest starting hand in Texas Hold’em poker. Raise.
At the bottom of this page is a comprehensive listing of Texas Hold'em starting hands based on their EV (expected value). Expected value is the average number of big blinds this hand will make or lose. For example: AA from the Small Blind in a $3/$6 game will make, on average, 2.71 times the big. However, there are 1,326 different starting poker hands in Texas Holdem, and even 270,725 poker hand variations in Pot Limit Omaha. While there are many different starting hands options in various games, the winning hand is determined by poker hand rankings consisting only of 10 options. Pocket aces is the best starting hand in poker. When you’re dealt pocket aces you’ve got the best hand pre-flop, period. One of the best things about pocket aces is that you dominate other strong starting hands like KK, QQ and JJ so there’s huge potential to win a massive pot.
KK – Kings
A pocket pair of kings. Raise.
QQ – A pair of queens.
Play similar to AA, however, two or more people go all-in, fold. The odds of someone having a bigger pocket pair that has you crushed is pretty likely.
AK suited – AK offsuit
Strongest drawing hand requires a preflop raise to start building a pot. If you hit a pair, you will have top pair top kicker, a very strong hand.
JJ – A pair of jacks
If the flop comes with cards of higher value and there is a lot of action – fold.
AQ suited – AQ offsuit
Raise in any position to continue to play on the flop.
AJ – Ace Jack, A10 – Ace ten
Limp from early position. Raise from middle and late positions. If there was a raise in front of you from a tight player – fold.
KQ – King Queen
Limp in early positions, and raise from middle positions. Fold against an early position raise from a tight poker player.
TT – 10 10 – Pair Of tens
A pocket pair of tens. Raise from any position.
Pairs of 2's – 9's
Limp from any position. You can also call a smallish raise for set mining potential. Note, however, the weaker the pair, the less the chance you have to win the poker hand.
KT, QJ, QT, JT
If someone limped, call. If the action has folded around to you in late position at the poker table – raise.
Strongest Starting Hands In Texas Holdemas Hold Em
Poker Hands (ascending order):
- High Card : If none of the players have at least a pair in their hand, then the winner is the poker player who has the highest ranked non pair poker hand.
- One Pair : Two cards of the same rank. If two players have the same pair, then additional cards are compared starting with the highest ranking card.
- Two Pair : Two pairs of cards of the same rank. When two players have a two pair hand, the winner is determined by the hand that has the highest ranked pair.
- Three of a kind : Three cards of the same rank. If a player has a pocket pair and another card of the same rank comes on the board, this combination is called a set. If the board has a pair of cards, which coincide with the players' hole cards, this combination is called trips.
- Straight : Five consecutive cards, regardless of suit. If straights have two players, the winner is determined by the highest card straight.
- Flush : Five cards of different ranks, but the same suit. Seniority is determined by the highest ranking card.
- Full House : A hand that consists of a combination of pairs and three of a kind. Seniority is determined by the highest ranked three of a kind.
- Four of a kind : Any four cards of the same rank. If two players have the same four of a kind hand, the winner is determined by the kicker (the highest fifth card).
- Straight Flush : The second best hand in Texas Hold’em is five consecutive cards of the same suit. The winner is determined by the highest card.
- Royal Flush The best poker hand in Texas Hold’em is five consecutive cards of the same suit from ace through to ten.
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The strength of your starting hand in Texas Hold'em can help you determine your chances of winning, even before the remaining cards are dealt. From a pair of aces — the strongest starting hand — to a 2 and a 7, knowing the strength of your starting hand is an important part of your success at the table. When playing Texas Hold'em you need to know which starting hands are worth staying in with—and which you should fold.
Best Starting Hands
Having a strong starting hand can help you determine your chances of winning even before the flop is dealt. In general, you're a strong contender if your starting hand contains:
- Ace/Ace: the strongest starting hand in the game.
- King/king, queen/queen, jack/jack: high pairs set you off well.
- An ace with a face card: sets a good foundation, if the flop works in your favor.
Beyond these cards, you'll also often be happy to see cards in sequence, particularly the high cards and face cards, and pairs in your starting hand. While some of these hands aren't always deemed the ideal hands, they can sometimes pay off if you're willing to take a risk. Don't forget the added bonus if your cards are all in the same suit, too. A flush, especially a straight flush or royal flush, can often win you the game. Again, the flop will play a major role in just how strong your chances are at winning, so assess carefully and determine how much risk you're willing to take.
The specific sequence of cards and the order in which they rank is an important aspect of the game. Studying up on the best starting hands in Texas Hold'em can help improve your game and your odds at winning the pot.
A strong starting hand might also encourage you to make a strong blind (your first bet).
Worst Starting Hands
When you're dealt your starting hand, some combinations greatly reduce your chances of winning. These are generally low numbers that are not in sequence or matched. You might consider folding early if your two cards are:
- A 2 or a 3, paired with a 7 or an 8: you can't make a straight out of them.
- An ace or a face card with an unsuited low card: you're taking a risk relying on a single high card.
- Two unmatched, unsuited low cards (like 4 and 7, 5 and 8, etc.): you'll rarely win with these.
The strategy of what to hold, and why, takes a bit to master, so studying the worst starting hands in Texas Hold'em, even more, can help you improve your game.
Beginner's Advice
Play only the cards in the 10-best list and always fold those in the worst hands list. Following this strategy may improve your results. However, there's no guarantee that receiving a strong starting hand will take the round, or that a weak starting hand is a definite loss. You never know how the flop may run, and while an unsuited 2 and 4 might seem like one to deal, sometimes you'll be pleasantly surprised with a two-pair or even a full house. Study up on the various hands you're aiming for.
Strongest Starting Hands In Texas Holdem Tournaments
How you approach the game will also differ based on the game itself. For example, if you're playing No-Limit Hold 'em, knowing the top No-Limit Hold'em hands can help you better understand how to play them.
Strongest Starting Hands In Texas Holdemem
As your skill increases, you'll also want to learn how position affects your Hold'em starting hand decisions. The more you learn, the more you'll realize how important your starting hands are to your bottom line. Play the good hands and fold the bad, and you'll be well on your way to becoming an expert at Hold'em.