Whether you’re just starting out or have some experience under your belt, knowing which starting hands to play is an important part of honing your poker skills.

In this guide, we’ll identify the best starting hands in poker, helping you make informed decisions, improve your strategy, and enjoy a responsible gaming experience.

Poker can be an exciting but challenging game, so understanding starting hands will improve your skills and contribute to responsible gambling.

What Are Poker Starting Hands?

Poker starting hands are the cards you’re dealt at the beginning of each round, forming the foundation of your strategy and decision-making.

These initial cards, given their value, can shape your approach throughout the hand. As the game progresses, you’ll combine them with community cards to form your best possible hand.

The strength of your starting hand can be significant; it can influence whether you’ll play aggressively, defensively, or choose to fold early on.

Some starting hands, like a pair of Aces or high-suited cards, provide a stronger foundation to build upon as more cards are revealed.

Each poker variant, including popular ones like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, has its own rules about how many cards you’re dealt initially; however, understanding and evaluating the value of your starting hand is important across all variants. Evaluating your starting hands helps you make more informed decisions during the game.

How Many Different Poker Starting Hands Are There?

In poker, particularly in Texas Hold’em, the game begins with each player receiving two cards. The combination of these two cards is called your starting hand, and it potentially plays a crucial role in shaping your decisions during the game.

A standard deck contains 52 cards, leading to a total of 1,326 possible combinations of two cards; however, when assessing the strength of these hands, the suits generally don’t affect their overall potential value. This is because the strength of a hand is primarily determined by the rank of the cards rather than their suits.

When you focus solely on the rank of the cards and disregard the suits, the number of distinct starting hands reduces to 169. These 169 hands include pairs, suited combinations, and unsuited combinations.

Best Starting Hands In Poker: Good Hands To Play

In poker, starting with a strong hand can provide a meaningful advantage. Let’s take a look at some starting hands that are generally seen as strong:

Pocket Aces

Pocket aces are when you have a starting hand of two aces of any suit. Often referred to as “bullets” or “pocket rockets,” pocket aces are regarded as the strongest starting hand. They set a solid groundwork, though it’s important to stay attentive throughout the game.

Pocket Kings

Pocket kings are when you have a starting hand of two kings of any suit. Known as “cowboys,” pocket kings are powerful and second only to pocket aces. They present a strong starting position but call for careful play, especially if the community cards suggest an opponent might hold aces.

Pocket Queens

Pocket queens are when you have a starting hand of two queens of any suit. Affectionately termed “ladies,” pocket queens are strong contenders, just below aces and kings. They can be strong, though it’s important to be cautious if higher cards appear on the board.

Ace-King

An Ace-King starting hand consists of an ace and a king from any suit. Often called “big slick,” ace-king is a high-value hand, especially when suited, offering the potential for flushes and straights. It is a versatile hand but benefits from supportive community cards.

Pocket Jacks

Referred to as “hooks,” pocket jacks are a strong hand but can be challenging to play. Patience and observing your opponents’ actions are key, as the jack’s strength can fluctuate with the board.

Starting with a good hand lays a foundation for making informed decisions as the game progresses. Remain observant, adapt to changing situations, and remember that while strong starting hands can potentially improve your strategy, poker primarily involves skill, patience, and adaptability.

Which Poker Hands Should You Fold?

In poker, deciding when to fold is an important skill that can help you manage your chips effectively. Recognising less promising starting hands helps you avoid potentially challenging situations and conserves your resources for better opportunities.

Low Ranked Cards

Hands like the 2 of clubs paired with the 7 of diamonds are often considered to have limited potential. These low-ranked cards make it difficult to form combinations such as pairs or full houses. Starting with such hands usually doesn’t work out well, so it’s often wise to fold them early.

Unconnected Cards

Cards that are not close in rank, like 4 of spades and 9 of diamonds, present potential challenges in forming straights.

Since they lack connection, these hands need specific community cards to become useful. Folding unconnected cards can help avoid tricky situations and is a practical approach.

Off-Suit Low Cards

When your hand consists of low, off-suit cards like the 3 of hearts and 8 of clubs, the potential for flushes or straights is minimal. These hands lack synergy, making it harder to form useful combinations. Folding off-suit low cards helps focus on hands with better potential.

Recognising and folding these less promising hands is a key part of responsible poker play. Being patient and selective gives you a better chance to act when you are dealt a strong hand.

Poker Hands Probability

Understanding the probability of different poker hands is a key component of playing strategically. By knowing the likelihood of forming specific hands, you can make more informed decisions while maintaining a balanced approach to the game.

High Card Probability

A high card hand occurs when no combination of cards forms a pair, straight or flush. This is the most common hand you’ll encounter, with a probability of around 50%. In many situations, you’ll rely on having a high-value card to determine your strategy against opponents.

Pair Probability

A pair occurs when you have two cards of the same rank. The odds of obtaining a pair are roughly 42%. While not all pairs are created equal, high pairs such as aces or kings provide a solid base for strategic decision-making in the game.

Two Pair and Three of a Kind

Getting two pairs is a valuable hand, with a probability of approximately 4.75%. It offers greater leverage compared to a single pair. The probability of landing three of a kind is slightly lower, at just over 2%. Three-of-a-kind can be potent, especially if they’re high-ranked cards, giving you more to work with during a round.

Straight and Flush

Straights and flushes are less common outcomes, providing positive scenarios to consider. The odds of drawing a straight are around 0.39%, while the chances of forming a flush are about 0.20%.

Full House, Four of a Kind, and Beyond

Rare hands like full houses and four-of-a-kind have probabilities of around 0.14% and 0.02%, respectively. Although infrequent, these hands allow unique opportunities within the game. The elusive straight flush and royal flush top the rarity scale, appearing in less than 0.0015% of cases.

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*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.

**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.