The best starting hands in poker are AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, 99, AK, AQ, AJ, KQ, KJ and more holdings like this. The reason why they are the best starting hands is because they are statistically most likely to win the pot at showdown. You can improve your winnings in poker dramatically by focusing on playing hands like this. The 20 Best Starting Poker Hands. The best starting hands in Texas Holdem are big pairs and big cards. Of course, we all know the power of AA, KK and QQ, but JJ-TT are also premium hands. Some have a hate relationship with JJ and TT, but I love being dealt these. In poker, players form sets of five playing cards, called hands, according to the rules of the game. Each hand has a rank, which is compared against the ranks of other hands participating in the showdown to decide who wins the pot. In high games, like Texas hold 'em and seven-card stud, the highest-ranking hands win. If your starting hands, or hole cards as they are known, form a pair then you already have a hand one step up the hand rankings ladder. This is known as a “pocket pair”. Obviously, the quality of your hand also depends on the rank of the pair and it follows that the best starting hand in Texas Hold’em is a pair of aces. The Importance of Starting Hand Selection. As you know Poker is a game of maths and probability. It is therefore possible to know which starting hands are most probable to win a hand and this has been statistically proven in many studies.

It follows that in order to have the better showdown hand as often as possible, you should have the better starting hand as often as possible too. It is vital to have an accurate idea of the value of your starting hand before you decide to enter the pot. You will combine its value with various other factors to determine how to progress.

This article explains the difference between good and bad starting hands.

Pocket Pairs: A Good Start

If your starting hands, or hole cards as they are known, form a pair then you already have a hand one step up the hand rankings ladder. This is known as a “pocket pair”.

Obviously, the quality of your hand also depends on the rank of the pair and it follows that the best starting hand in Texas Hold’em is a pair of aces. They look beautiful, and every Texas Hold’em player goes to sleep and dreams of finding nothing but aces in the hole.

A pocket pair can often win a hand of Texas Hold’em without needing to improve on the flop, turn or river. The probability of winning the pot without improving your own hand largely depends on the size of your pocket pair. If you are holding aces, your opponent has to make at least two pair in order to beat you.

Average Starting Hand In Poker Machines

Average Starting Hand In Poker Tournament

Furthermore, if the board brings a third card of the same rank, you have made three of a kind, or a “set”. The strength of your hand will often be entirely invisible to your opponent.

But beware! Small pocket pairs can sometimes be dangerous if they do not improve. Another player would only need to match one of his or her hole cards with a bigger community card to make a higher pair. If you hold 4♣4♦ you would lose to a player holding 7♠J♥ if there was either a jack or a seven on the flop, turn or river.

Average Starting Hand In Poker Players

The biggest pocket pairs often qualify as monster hands, but smaller pairs can be considered at best speculative and sometimes even trash.