Poker Hands: Best and Worse Starting Hands in Texas Holdem

Here is a list of the ten top starting hands in Texas Holdem poker as
well as a list of the worst Texas Holdem hands.

The basic poker lesson is when to hold and when to fold. Knowing whether
your initial deal is worth staying in the game or if you should call it
a day, is one of the most important decisions to make at the beginning
of the poker game. One of the most common beginner's mistakes is holding
onto the worst pair of hole cards instead of folding and protecting your
money.

Therefore, if you are a novice poker player, one of the first things you
should memorize is which initial hands are worth holding and which hands
leaves you no choice but to fold. Since Texas Holdem is the most popular
poker variation, here you can find lists of the best and the worth
Holdem poker starting hands.

Best Poker Hands

If you are lucky to be dealt one of these initial hands, you are
definitely having an excellent beginning:

Pair of Aces: as known as American Airlines or pocket rockets, it is the
best possible Texas Holdem starting hand.

Pair of Kings: not as good as a pair of Aces but still an excellent way
to open a game of Texas Holdem.

Pair of Queens: if you want to look at the bright side, you will be
beaten only by Kings and Aces.

Ace and King: if they are of the same suit, your condition is even
better, since you can form the nut flush at ease.

Pair of Jacks: unless the flop shows either a Queen, King or an Ace, you
have decent chances of winning with this promising starting hand.

Ace and Queen: the same as Ace and King, a suited hand would increase
your chances of stepping out as a winner.

King and Queen: unless the community cards contain an Ace, you are in a
good shape with this starting hand and even better if it is suited

Ace and Jack</b>: even if appears unsuited, this starting hand is still
worth holding.

King and Jack: still one of the best Texas Holdem starting hands, but be
careful with it, especially when unsuited.
Ace and Ten: the Ace upgrades it to a pretty good hand, although
requires a cautious play since it can be beaten by any of the starting
hands mentioned above.

Worst Poker Hands

These hands would suit you well if you play some of the lowball
variations, but if you play traditional Texas Holdem poker, the best
advice would be to fold.

2 and 7: if you are dealt this hand, especially unsuited, you cannot
even make a straight. Even if suited you should be so lucky to form a
low flush or the lowest pair. In one word: fold.

2 and 8: same as the previous hand; pair of 8s is still a low pair.

3 and 7: although it can beat the previous hands, it still a worthless
pair of cards

3 and 8</b>: again, hardly even a low straight.

2 and 6: only if the community cards will feature 3, 4 and 5, you will
have a chance of forming a straight. However, do not count on it,
especially if there are more than 3 attendances in the game.

2 and 9: thanks to the presence of the 9 you are in better shape than
with the former hands, still you cannot form a straight and even a pair
of 9s would be beaten by pairs of 10s, Jacks, Queens, etc.

3 and 9: the same thing: higher than 8 lower than almost any other hand.

4 and 9: as mentioned above; foldem.

2 and 10: even though Doyle Brunson had won two WSOP bracelets with this
starting hand, unless you have the talent and experience of Brunson, do
not hold this hand.

5 and 9: also known as Dolly Parton, this hand would get you nowhere
near the final table.