Poker starting hands: which hands to play as a beginner
There are 169 different starting hands in Texas Hold’em, but beginners only need a short list. Play strong hands, play more of them from late position, and fold the rest. The best starting hand is A♠A♥, followed by kings, queens and ace-king.
How to read a starting hand
Section titled “How to read a starting hand”- Pair: two cards of the same rank, like 9♣9♦.
- Suited: two cards of the same suit, like A♥J♥. Suited hands can make flushes, so they are a little stronger.
- Offsuit: different suits, like K♠Q♦.
- Connectors: cards next to each other, like 8♠7♠. They can make straights.
A simple beginner list
Section titled “A simple beginner list”| Group | Hands | Where to play them |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | AA, KK, QQ, AK | Any position: raise |
| Strong | JJ, 10-10, AQ, AJ suited, KQ suited | Any position: raise |
| Good | 99–77, AJ, A10 suited, KJ suited, QJ suited | Middle and late position |
| Playable | 66–22, suited aces, suited connectors like 98s, 87s | Late position (cutoff, button) |
| Fold | Everything else, especially weak offsuit hands | Usually fold |
This list is deliberately tight. As you get more experience you can play more hands from the button and the cutoff.
Raise, don’t limp
Section titled “Raise, don’t limp”When you decide to play a hand and nobody has raised yet, raise rather than just calling the big blind. A raise gives you two ways to win: everyone folds, or you have a strong hand after the flop.
Hands that cost beginners money
Section titled “Hands that cost beginners money”- Weak aces like A♣4♦ from early position: when you hit an ace, someone with a better kicker often beats you.
- Any two face cards offsuit like K♦J♣ facing a raise: they are often dominated by AK, AQ or KQ.
- Calling from the big blind with junk just because you already put one big blind in.
Position changes everything
Section titled “Position changes everything”The same hand can be a raise on the button and a fold under the gun. See our guide to poker positions.
What is the best starting hand in poker?
Section titled “What is the best starting hand in poker?”Pocket aces (AA). Next come kings, queens and ace-king.
How many starting hands are there in Texas Hold’em?
Section titled “How many starting hands are there in Texas Hold’em?”169 different starting hands, counting pairs, suited and offsuit combinations.
Should beginners play suited connectors?
Section titled “Should beginners play suited connectors?”Yes, but mainly from late position and for a small raise, because they rarely win without improving.
Is ace-king better than a pair?
Section titled “Is ace-king better than a pair?”Before the flop AK is close to a coin flip against small and medium pairs, but it is one of the best non-pair hands.