Texas Holdem Strategies: Texas Holdem Starting Hands
The first thing a new Texas Holdem player should understand is his/her starting hands; which holdem starting hands to keep and which hands to fold. Many new players make the mistake of staying for the flop with starting hands that have little or no future, overestimating the odds of getting a favourable flop.
Knowing when to fold your cards is holdem strategy - and there are many - that separates the good players from the bad. Always remember that no starting hands are 100% unbeatable, and an unfavorable flop reduces any potential value. If the flop does not improve your hand or present the possibility of the best hand (flush, straight), it's time to fold.
10 Best Holdem Starting Hands
If you are very new to Texas Holdem Poker, an often recommended strategy is to play only the top ten holdem starting hands.
The ten best Texas Holdem Starting Hands (hole cards) are:*AA KK QQ AKs AQs JJ KQs AJs KJs AKo
The Starting Hands chart presented below shows playable starting hands in Texas Holdem in order of decreasing potential. Hole Card Charts, from left to right:
- The hole cards in the first table should almost always be played, no matter what seat position you are in.
- The hole cards in the middle table are played with caution, and avoid playing them if you are in the early position.
- The last set of hole cards should be played with extreme caution and are probably suited for experienced players, and can be played in the late position.
Although this goes without saying, you should almost never play any starting cards that you don't see in following chart, not even if you have a horseshoe firmly wedged where the sun don't shine. An exception to this rule is when you have posted the big blind, no one bets before it comes back to you, so you've already paid to see the flop.
Expect to fold preflop at least 75% of the time. Some very good poker players have told me that they play less than 20% of the starting hands they are dealt. Playing only strong hands will increase your winnings and limit your losses in the long run. Ignore the wild players who seem to play every hand and get lucky on the flop. These players will lose in the long haul, even if they drive you crazy with luck in the short run. Texas Holdem, as all poker games, is a game of patience.
No matter how great your hole cards are, if the flop doesn't either a) Improve your hand, and/or b) fail to improve your opponents' hand(s),
be prepared to fold. Don't chase.Although it may be tempting to use the holdem hands chart as a cheat sheet while you're playing, it isn't advisable to do so, no matter how new you are to the game. Don't rely on charts more than you rely on your instinct and brain: Depending on such crutches will retard your growth as a poker player because, ultimately, how you play and what hole cards you play will depend more on the opponents you are up against: They're style of play, whether they're lose, tight, aggressive, weak, unpredictable or whatever, should be your guide. The chart is presented only to help give beginning players a rudimentary introduction to Texas Holdem Poker.
Texas Holdem Starting Hands Chart
* Top 10 Starting hands (Hole Cards) are in red *| Legend |
| Play, no matter what seat position |
| Play with caution, and rarely in early position |
| Play with extreme caution, and only in late position |
| Suited: | Unsuited: | Pairs: | | AK | AK | AA | | AQ | AQ | KK | | AJ | AJ | QQ | | AT | AT | JJ | | KQ | KQ | TT | | KJ | KJ | 99 | | KT | KT | 88 | | QJ | | 77 | | QT | | | | JT | | | | J9 | | | | T9 | | |
| | Suited: | Unsuited: | Pairs: | | A9 | KT | 55 | | A8 | QJ | 66 | | A7 | QT | | | A6 | JT | | | K9 | | | | Q9 | | | | Q8 | | | | J8 | | | | T8 | | | | 98 | | |
| | Suited: | Unsuited: | Pairs: | | A5 | K9 | 44 | | A4 | Q9 | 33 | | A3 | J9 | 22 | | A2 | J8 | | | K8 | T9 | | | K7 | T8 | | | K6 | 98 | | | K5 | 97 | | | K4 | 87 | | | K3 | | | | K2 | | | | J7 | | | | T7 | | | | 97 | | | | 96 | | | | 87 | | | | 86 | | | | 76 | | | | 75 | | | | 65 | | | | 54 | | |
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