Poker Hands Best and Worse Starting Hands in Texas Holdem
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Finance -> subcategory Other.
Poker Hands: Best and Worst Starting Hands in Texas Holdem
Knowing when to hold or fold is crucial in poker, particularly in Texas Holdem. Deciding whether to stay in the game with your initial hand or to fold is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Many beginners make the mistake of holding onto poor hands instead of folding and protecting their chips.
For novice players, it’s essential to recognize which starting hands are worth playing. Here’s a guide to the best and worst Texas Holdem starting hands.
Best Poker Hands
If you're lucky enough to be dealt one of these hands, you're off to a great start:
- Pair of Aces (Pocket Rockets): Known as American Airlines, this is the best possible starting hand.
- Pair of Kings: A powerful starting hand, though second to Aces.
- Pair of Queens: Strong but vulnerable to Kings and Aces.
- Ace and King (Suited): This hand offers a high potential for a flush.
- Pair of Jacks: A promising hand unless an overcard appears on the flop.
- Ace and Queen (Suited): Offers better odds for a flush and is a strong hand.
- King and Queen (Suited): A solid hand unless an Ace appears in community cards.
- Ace and Jack: Still worth playing, even if unsuited.
- King and Jack: A strong starting hand, but proceed with caution if unsuited.
- Ace and Ten: Good potential, but be wary of higher starting hands.
Worst Poker Hands
These hands generally warrant folding in traditional Texas Holdem:
- 2 and 7: The worst starting hand; offers minimal chances for straights or flushes.
- 2 and 8: Similar to 2 and 7, with a slightly higher pair.
- 3 and 7: Still a weak combination unlikely to win.
- 3 and 8: A poor hand with limited potential.
- 2 and 6: Needs an exact run-out of 3, 4, and 5 for a straight.
- 2 and 9: Offers little improvement over lower starting hands.
- 3 and 9: Low potential compared to stronger hands.
- 4 and 9: Another weak hand; fold it.
- 2 and 10: Despite Doyle Brunson’s success with it, it’s generally a poor choice.
- 5 and 9 (Dolly Parton): Unlikely to help you reach the final table.
In Texas Holdem, understanding which hands to play and which to fold is key to success. Keep these best and worst hands in mind to enhance your gameplay.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Poker Hands Best and Worse Starting Hands in Texas Holdem.
You can browse and read all the articles for free. If you want to use them and get PLR and MRR rights, you need to buy the pack. Learn more about this pack of over 100 000 MRR and PLR articles.