One rule of playing poker is to get familiar with the different types of hands. In Texas Holdem, a number of starting hands can be dealt to you. While this may seem like a lot at first, it’s pretty easy to memorize all of them. The first step is to learn the different hand rankings in poker.
Poker hands ranked is based on the probability of being dealt a particular hand preflop. The rarer the hand, the higher it ranks and the more likely it is to win. Let’s explore some of the top starting hands in Texas Holdem.
What is Texas Holdem?
Texas Holdem is a type of poker game played with two hole cards and five community cards. The game’s objective is to make the best hand out of your hole cards and the community cards. The player with the best hand at the poker table at the end of the game wins the pot.
There are many ways to win at Texas Holdem, but the most important thing is to familiarize yourself with the different types of hands.
Top Starting Hands in Texas Holdem
In poker, there are a lot of rankings for different types of hands. The most important thing to remember is that the higher the ranking of the hand, the less likely it is to be dealt to you.
AA – Pocket Aces
AA is the best possible starting hand you can be dealt in poker. This starting hand is a favorite to win pre-flop and almost always makes you money in the long run. If you’re dealt pocket aces, your goal should be to get all your chips in the middle and take down the pot. This pair is the best starting Texas Holdem hand you could ever get in poker online or in person.
KK – Pocket Kings
Pocket kings are another excellent starting hand in Texas Holdem. Like pocket aces, your goal with pocket kings should be to get all your chips in the middle and take down the pot. Pocket kings are slightly less likely to win preflop than pocket aces, but they’re still a very strong hand.
QQ – Pocket Queens
Pocket queens are another excellent starting hand in Texas Holdem. Like pocket kings and pocket aces, you will almost always want to raise preflop when you have a pair of queens in your hand. The queens are the third-strongest starting hand behind aces and kings, so you should treat them as such. Other players often raise even before the flop when they have a pair of queens.
JJ – Pocket Jacks
Pocket jacks are another great starting hand in Texas Holdem. They are considered a big hand because they have a lot of potential. For example, if two other Jacks are on the board, you have four of a kind. However, if another player has a higher pair or two pairs, you could be in trouble.
AK – Ace-King Suited
Ace-king suited is another excellent starting hand in Texas Holdem. This starting hand has the potential to make a flush or a straight, which makes it a very strong hand. Your goal with ace-king suited should be to get all your chips in the middle and take down the pot.
AQ – Ace-Queen Suited
Ace-queen suited is another excellent starting hand in Texas Holdem. You can make a lot of strong hands with this hand, including a flush and a straight. The main thing to watch out for is not getting too aggressive with this hand, as you can quickly get into trouble.
KQ – King-Queen Suited
King-queen suited is a great hand to play in a wide range of situations. It has the potential to make big hands like straights and flushes while also being able to hit strong top-pair-type hands.
AJ- Ace-Jack Suited
Ace-Jack Suited is a strong starting hand in Texas Hold’em. It’s often said that “Aces are always good,” especially when they are part of a strong starting hand like AJ.
When you’re dealt AJ in your starting hand, you have a couple of different ways to play it. You can either raise pre-flop to steal the pot or call and see a flop, hoping to hit a big hand.
AK – Ace-King (Offsuit)
An offsuit means that the two cards you are dealt are not of the same suit. An example of an offsuit hand would be Ace of Spades and King of Hearts. While this hand is not as strong as a suited hand, it is still a very good starting hand in Texas Holdem. Your goal with ace-king offsuit should be to get all your chips in the middle and take down the pot.
TT – Pocket Tens
Pocket tens are another excellent starting hand in Texas Holdem. Like pocket jacks, queens, and pocket kings, your goal with pocket tens should be getting all your chips in the middle and taking down the pot. Pocket tens are slightly less likely to win preflop than pocket jacks, but they’re still a very strong hand.
The Takeaway
In general, you want to be looking to play the best possible starting hands when you sit down at a Texas Holdem table. The 10 hands listed above are all great starting hands that will give you an excellent chance to win the pot. Remember, your goal with any hand should be to get all your chips in the middle and take down the pot. When you’re dealt a great starting hand, don’t be afraid to get all your chips in the middle and go for the win.
Start practicing your poker skills today at Poker! You’ll be able to practice your poker skills in no time. Good luck!