Starting hands

Starting hands

Choosing what starting hands to play is an important part of poker. When you choose what starting hands to play there are a number of things to consider. One of the most important factors is your position (please also read our chapter on position).

In general terms this chapter describes what starting hands you can play in a certain position. Or as we like to put it – what hands you should not play. If you play to many starting hands you will quickly loose your bankroll.

Basic concepts

You can evaluate your starting hand using three criteria. They are as follows:

• High cards (rank)
• Suited cards
• Connected cards

High cards can give you the highest pair as well as giving you a good kicker. Having a good kicker is often important since many pots are won with one pair.

If your cards are of the same suit your chances of catching a flush increase considerably. Flush is a very strong hand.

Having connected cards can give you a straight which also is a strong hand.

Your starting hands should usually be described as containing at least two of the above criteria. Otherwise they should usually be thrown away. For instance a Q and 6 of the same suit (only suited) is pretty useless while Q and J of the same suit is definitely playable (suited and connected).

Pocket pairs are also great starting hands especially those of high card value since they often stand up and win unimproved. Lower pairs need to improve to be playable after the flop but make strong trips when they hit.

What starting hands should I play?

This question is not always so easy to answer. It can for instance depend on your own poker skills. If your great at reading your opponents you can allow yourself to play more starting hands.

Below you will first find a set of guidelines which can be of importance when choosing what starting hands to play. After the guidelines we also present two starting hand charts, one for fixed limit and one for no limit.

There are five things to consider when choosing starting hands:

Position

Position is probably the most important thing to consider when choosing your starting hands. In late position you have more information and therefore you can play more starting hands in this position.

Calling raises

If the pot is raised you need a better hand to call with then if the pot had not been raised. This is also known as the “GAP” concept and was introduced by David Sklansky. All starting hands are relative in value. If some one in early position raises and someone else raises again you have to have the absolute best of starting hands to play (AA,KK). Relatively speaking two people have shown strength so you need a stronger hand.

The number of players

The number of players is also important. The more players at the table the higher the chance that someone picked up something good. In other words you need better starting hands when playing against more people.

Type of opponents

If your opponents play to many starting hands then you can also be more liberal when you choose your own starting hands. In the same way you should play fewer starting hands when the opposition is tight and don´t play to many starting hands.

If your opponents are passive (i.e. doesn’t bet unless they have a hand) you can also play many starting hands. If they are aggressive (bet and raise often) you should play fewer starting hands.

The optimal opponent is loose and passive. However a tight passive opponent is not bad either.

Type of game

The number of starting hands you can play in fixed limit and no limit vary greatly. I no limit you can actually play a lot more starting hands than in fixed limit. Strange?! This is because of the increased implied odds in no limit. In no limit the bets before the flop are often relatively small compared to the final pot size. In other words you pay less to take a shot at winning more. In fixed limit the bets before the flop are relatively speaking a much larger percentage of the final pot (at the end of the hand) and therefore the implied odds are significantly lower. Pot limit also offers better implied odds similar to no limit. For pot limit, a starting hand strategy close to no limit can be used.

If your playing a tournament the starting hand strategy is often close to no limit at the beginning due to the size of the pre flop betting in comparison to the final pot size. As the blinds and ante go up things change and become more like fixed limit. Depending on where you’re at in the tournament the starting hands requirements can differ dramatically. We suggest you study tournament strategy carefully. See our reading startegy under the tab poker startegy.

Below you will find what starting hands to play in fixed limit and no limit. These do not represent any absolute truth but are merely a suggestion to what one might play from a given position. Even so this can be of good use at the beginning of your poker career. It will allow you to concentrate more on the game and after a while you will know the hands to play in what position more or less by heart. Please also consider the five factors above and adjust your game accordingly. If you play tournaments stick to no limit starting hands in the beginning. To get some thorough advise please read Dan Harrington’s books as we suggest in our reading strategy see the tab poker startegy.

Starting hands fixed limit

Below (using the link) you will find starting hands for fixed limit. These starting hands apply to a full game of 8-10 players.

Starting hands fixed limit

Starting hands no limit

Below (using the link) you will find starting hands for no limit. These starting hands apply to a full game of 8-10 players.

Starting hands no limit

Pokerbeginner your pokerguide.

Looking for a great bonus to a great poker room? Then check out the PartyPoker or PokerStars page. Here you will find the current PartyPoker bonus and PokerStars bonus.

Play Online Poker