The first thing a Holdem player should learn is which cards
are worth playing, and which should be folded. Many beginning
players stay in a hand with cards that have little or no future,
and it ends up showing in there chip count.
Remember that no two cards alone can be unbeatable, and once
the flop falls things that once looked good may no longer be
worth pursuing. Still, to give yourself the best chance to succeed,
play only the premium hands.
The best starting hands are: Large Pairs - Aces, Kings, Queens,
Jacks. Even pairs of tens and nines and eights are high quality
starting hands. Play them.
Aces with suited High Cards - When you get an Ace with a K,Q,J,
or even a ten, many good things can happen. You already have
high card. If a flush comes, you'll have the best possible one
because of your ace. High straights, and even a straight flush
is possible with these cards. Play them.
Suited Faces Cards and Tens - While it's nicer to have an ace
in the hole, suited face cards are playable hands. They hold
a lot of potential including high pair with a strong kicker,
straights, and flushes.
Aces with unsuited High Cards - Aces with an unsuited partner
can still give you top pair with a high kicker, or a high straight.
Because other players may also have an ace, the strength of
the second card in your hand is important. If two players tie,
that second card, or 'kicker' will decide the winner. This is
why A-10 is a playable hand, and A-6 is not. (A-10 can also
turn into a high straight). So while aces are highly sought
after, do not feel the need to play every hand in which you
are dealt an ace.
King with Face Card - A King with a Queen, or with a Jack is
a playable hand. But, it is not as strong as you may think.
Still, two face cards rank high enough that seeing the flop
is often a good idea.
These are the strongest starting hands in a Texas Holdem game.
Other hands are playable depending on the circumstances at the
table, but beginners may want to stick to playing only these
premium hands until they understand the game more fully. Playing
these hands will not guarantee that you will be a winner. Poker
doesn't work that way. Even pairs of Aces get beaten. But, if
you want to win a pot, finding any of the cards listed on the
chart in your hand is a good place to start.
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