The strength of your starting hand in Texas Hold'em can help you determine your chances of winning, even before the remaining cards are dealt. From a pair of aces — the strongest starting hand — to a 2 and a 7, knowing the strength of your starting hand is an important part of your success at the table. When playing Texas Hold'em you need to know which starting hands are worth staying in with—and which you should fold.

Best Starting Hands

SHOWDOWN - Unless everyone folds to one player, the best hand at showdown (showing cards after last betting round post-river) wins the pot. The player who bet on the river should reveal their hand first. The other/s can show or muck/fold their hand and give up the pot. The hands that you play at a loose table will be quite different than the hands you would play at a super tight table. This is an example of some very basic table dynamics that should be considered whenever you are trying to identify a solid pre flop hand range. For example, 2-3, 4-2, 9-2, 2-8, 2-5, 2-6, Q-2, etc. The truth is that these hands can only lead to a loss and as a poker player, the earlier you know this the better. As soon as you are dealt with any hand that falls in this category, you should fold and wait for the next game as the odds are not on your side.

Having a strong starting hand can help you determine your chances of winning even before the flop is dealt. In general, you're a strong contender if your starting hand contains:

• Ace/Ace: the strongest starting hand in the game.
• King/king, queen/queen, jack/jack: high pairs set you off well.
• An ace with a face card: sets a good foundation, if the flop works in your favor.

Beyond these cards, you'll also often be happy to see cards in sequence, particularly the high cards and face cards, and pairs in your starting hand. While some of these hands aren't always deemed the ideal hands, they can sometimes pay off if you're willing to take a risk. Don't forget the added bonus if your cards are all in the same suit, too. A flush, especially a straight flush or royal flush, can often win you the game. Again, the flop will play a major role in just how strong your chances are at winning, so assess carefully and determine how much risk you're willing to take.

The specific sequence of cards and the order in which they rank is an important aspect of the game. Studying up on the best starting hands in Texas Hold'em can help improve your game and your odds at winning the pot.

A strong starting hand might also encourage you to make a strong blind (your first bet).

Worst Starting Hands

When you're dealt your starting hand, some combinations greatly reduce your chances of winning. These are generally low numbers that are not in sequence or matched. You might consider folding early if your two cards are:

• A 2 or a 3, paired with a 7 or an 8: you can't make a straight out of them.
• An ace or a face card with an unsuited low card: you're taking a risk relying on a single high card.
• Two unmatched, unsuited low cards (like 4 and 7, 5 and 8, etc.): you'll rarely win with these.

What Poker Hands Should You Fold Back

The strategy of what to hold, and why, takes a bit to master, so studying the worst starting hands in Texas Hold'em, even more, can help you improve your game.

Beginner's Advice

Play only the cards in the 10-best list and always fold those in the worst hands list. Following this strategy may improve your results. However, there's no guarantee that receiving a strong starting hand will take the round, or that a weak starting hand is a definite loss. You never know how the flop may run, and while an unsuited 2 and 4 might seem like one to deal, sometimes you'll be pleasantly surprised with a two-pair or even a full house. Study up on the various hands you're aiming for.

How you approach the game will also differ based on the game itself. For example, if you're playing No-Limit Hold 'em, knowing the top No-Limit Hold'em hands can help you better understand how to play them.

As your skill increases, you'll also want to learn how position affects your Hold'em starting hand decisions. The more you learn, the more you'll realize how important your starting hands are to your bottom line. Play the good hands and fold the bad, and you'll be well on your way to becoming an expert at Hold'em.

Playing pocket Ace Five, Ace Four , Ace Three, and Ace Two Off Suit and Ace Five, Ace Four , Ace Three, and Ace Two Suited in Texas Hold'em Poker.

If you have been following this series, you will notice that most of the articles contain advice about only one hand. The reason I have combined all of these hands here is they are all played exactly the same way. These hands are similar because they can all make a straight and are very weak kicker wise. The great majority of the time it is correct to fold these hands, so if you have any question about whether or not it is correct to play in a particular situation, it is best to fold. The suited hands are stronger than the non-suited ones, but even they are weak because the flush will not come often enough to make them profitable in most situations. These hands require a large number of opponents to build the pot after the flop when you hit a hand. They do not play well in short handed pots; so avoid this situation at all costs. It is worth missing a few opportunities to play them when you aren't sure the situation is ideal.

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Early Position

In all but the very loosest and most passive games, all of these hands should be folded from early position. If there is any chance of a raise behind you, which there is in most games, these hands are not strong enough to enter the pot. Even in a game where five or more see every flop without a raise, it is incorrect to play the non-suited hands listed above. The suited ones are just barely playable in these games, but usually can be played because when you hit your flush the pot will tend to be very large, making up for the many times you don't win. Even in the games it is safe to enter with the suited hands, you must be disciplined enough to fold after the flop if it doesn't help you considerably. If you never play another one of these hands from early position you will most likely be a more profitable player.

Middle Position

Play these hands the same from middle position as from early position. If there has been a raise, the correct play is a fold.

What Hands Should You Fold In Poker

Late Position

What Poker Hands Should You Fold The American Flag

What Poker Hands Should You Fold Away

If there are already many players in the pot and it is unraised, you can play the suited hands from late position. Otherwise it is correct to fold them. I even fold the non-suited hands from late position in unraised pots over 95% of the time. They just aren't good enough to play.

Blind Play

If the pot is not raised, I always see the flop with these hands. When the pot is raised, I will call a single bet with the suited hands, if there are many opponents. In both situations, if the flop does not help me I will get away from them to any aggression. Even when the flop contains an Ace I will fold to aggression. It is very likely that I am out kicked.