Which poker hands should you fold? A guide to weak starting hands
Most poker hands should be folded before the flop. Good players play roughly 15–25% of hands at a full table and a bit more at 6-max. The fastest way for a beginner to stop losing is to fold weak hands, especially from early position and against raises.
Hands to fold almost always
Section titled “Hands to fold almost always”| Hand type | Examples | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Low unconnected offsuit | 7-2, 8-3, 9-4 | Rarely make strong hands |
| Weak offsuit kings and queens | K-4o, Q-5o | Dominated by better kings and queens |
| Gapped low cards | 9-5, 8-4 | Few straights, weak pairs |
Hands to fold in early position
Section titled “Hands to fold in early position”- Weak aces offsuit like A-2o to A-9o.
- Offsuit broadway hands like K-Jo, Q-Jo, K-10o at full ring.
- Small suited connectors like 5-4s at tough tables.
They can be fine on the button; see playing the button.
Hands to fold against raises
Section titled “Hands to fold against raises”- A-J, K-Q, A-10 offsuit against tight early raisers: see A-Q, A-J and K-Q.
- Most hands against a 3-bet: see 3-bet.
Why folding feels hard
Section titled “Why folding feels hard”- You get bored. Watch the table and learn about player types while you wait.
- Every hand “could win”. It could, but if it loses money on average, it’s a fold. See expected value.
The big blind exception
Section titled “The big blind exception”In the big blind you get a discount, so you can defend many more hands, especially against late-position steals. See big blind defence.
Full charts: starting hands.
What percentage of hands should you play in poker?
Section titled “What percentage of hands should you play in poker?”Roughly 15–25% at a full table, a bit more at 6-max.
What is the worst starting hand in Hold’em?
Section titled “What is the worst starting hand in Hold’em?”7-2 offsuit is usually considered the worst.
Should you fold weak aces?
Section titled “Should you fold weak aces?”Often from early position and against raises; they’re more playable on the button.
Why should beginners fold more?
Section titled “Why should beginners fold more?”Weak hands lose money on average, and folding them is the quickest way to stop losing.