The PokerStrategy.com Starting Hands Chart for No Limit Texas Hold'em shows you which hands you should play and how you should play them. Simply print it out and you will always know what to do throughout the entire game. Free poker money tip: Before you start playing with your free poker money, click here to download the chart! Texas Holdem Starting Hand Chart Many poker professionals agree that one of the most important skills of a successful player is knowing which starting hands to play in different positions and situations.
- Texas Holdem No Limit Starting Hand Chart
- Poker Starting Hands Chart
- Texas Holdem Best Starting Hands Chart
- Texas Holdem Starting Hands Ranking Chart
- General Guidelines
- Seven Card Stud
- Limit Texas Hold'em
There are five categories of limit hold ’em starting hands that we will discuss: Big pairs, small and medium pairs, two high cards, suited connectors, and big-little suited. Most other hands should be thrown away unless you have the big blind and the pot has not been raised.
Big pairs.
A pair of tens and higher is an excellent starting hand. With a high pair, you not only can make an even bigger hand, but also can completely miss the board — your hand does not improve — and still have a reasonable opportunity to win the pot. Obviously, the chances of winning with two aces are better than the chances of winning with two tens. In general, however, all high pairs have immediate value and should be played aggressively.
Small and medium pairs.
In hold ’em, as in seven-card stud, there is a big difference in strength between big pairs and smaller pairs. A hand like the
seldom wins the pot without improvement. Moreover, the odds against this hand improving to three of a kind on the flop are almost 8-to-1 (although you still can flop a straight draw).
Since small and medium pairs rarely win without improving, they have little immediate value and therefore can be classified as drawing hands. And to profitably play these hands, you need several opponents in the pot.
Two high cards.
Two unsuited high cards is usually a playable hand but not a great hand. Even though ace-king almost always should be played, a hand like theoften should be folded, especially if someone has raised. In addition, this hand must hit the flop to win in a multiway pot.
If your hand is suited, you should be more inclined to play. But remember the warning given earlier: Don’t overrate the value of two suited cards.
Suited connectors.
Hands like theare only fair at best. And if your hand contains a gap, you cannot play it as often since your straight possibilities have decreased. This type of hand usually should be thrown away in early position, and you should not call a raise even from a late position unless many players are already in the pot.
Do online casinos really pay out? Yes, they certainly do. It is possible to see stories of many players who have won thousands - or even millions - from playing games at real money online casinos. Again, it is super important to check with your online casino cashier prior to winning that huge jackpot, or possibly checking out just before you win it big. In most cases the really large. Discover a listing of the best payout online casinos for US players. Find online casinos that actually pay out. Top 10 payout casinos with the highest payout and fastest payout rates for 2019. Online casinos that actually pay out.
Big-little suited.
An ace or a king with a small card of the same suit is similar in value to the suited connectors and should be played as such. Of course ace-little suited is better than king-little suited.
Starting Hand Quiz
1. What hands are you primarily interested in playing?
Big pairs and high cards, especially suited high cards.
2. How do you play these hands?
Aggressively. Almost always raise, and with the better hands, usually reraise.
3. Suppose two players are already in the pot. The first player has raised, the second has called, and you hold two kings. What should you do?
Raise again. You have a strong hand and would prefer to shut out the remaining players.
4. In what situation do small pairs play best?
In a many-handed pot.
5. When you play a small pair, what are you hoping to do?
South Carolina Casinos and Gambling Facts. South Carolina Casinos and the Biggest Casino City in South Carolina. South Carolina has a total of 4 casinos and pari-mutuel facilities at your disposal which are spread out across 2 cities throughout the state. The city with the most is Charleston with 2 casinos. Are you looking for the best casinos near Charleston in South Carolina? This page has all the information about Casinos in Charleston, SC you need. Find Casino perfect for you NOW! The most accurate list of casinos in and Near Charleston, South Carolina. Find addresses, read reviews and get the best offers! By continuing to use the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies in order to provide you the best possible experience. Qualified players are eligible for exclusive VIP offers and personal casino host services at casinos near Charleston, South Carolina and other casinos and cruises around the world. If you would like to be notified as soon as new comp offers become available at casinos near Charleston, South Carolina, such as free slot play, buffet coupons,.
To make three of a kind on the flop.
6. When do suited connectors play best?
When many opponents are in the pot.
7. You are in one of the blind positions, someone has raised, and there are several callers. What kind of hands should you play?
All of the good hands, plus all pairs and many of the hands that can make straights and flushes.
8. Which hand is better, ace-jack offsuit or eight-seven suited?
Normally, ace-jack offsuit is the better hand. But when a lot of players are in the pot, you would prefer to hold the eight-seven suited. In this spot, don’t overplay a hand like ace-jack.
9. If there is no raise, what hands do you call with out of the little blind?
Even though you can get in for only a partial bet, you still need to be somewhat selective. Routinely playing hands like the
eventually will prove costly. In other words, you still should discard your worst hands.
10. If someone has raised, how does this affect the hands you should play?
Generally, you need to be much more selective. Small pairs and medium suited connectors do not play well against a large pair, and when someone raises, he’s quite likely to be holding a large pair. In addition, a raise makes it doubtful that a lot of players will enter the pot. This means you will not get the implied odds — the amount of money you anticipate winning versus the amount you expect it to cost you — that many hands require to be profitable.
Nj casinos online gambling. Value:Different NJ online casinos offer different values both in terms of the typical payback in the games at the casino and in terms of the that the casino site provides. No matter what you consider the best online NJ casino to be, the fact remains that all are subject to the same stringent requirements and regulations of the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement.
11. When should you play a hand like king-four suited?
When you are in a late position, several players are already in, and the pot has not been raised.
12. When you have a close decision regarding whether to play a hand, what should you consider?
In hold ’em, as in seven-card stud and all other forms of poker, you must take into account how well those opponents already in the pot play. The better they play, the less inclined you should be to go up against them.
Poker Strategy and Other Topics - November 2019
I Got Postled, Allegedly
by Carlos Welch
by Carlos Welch
Don’t be Like Mike: Poker and the Art of Lying
by Robert Samuels
by Robert Samuels
Starting Hand Selection in Omaha Eight or Better, Part 7: Queens and Lesser Pairs
by Kevin Haney
by Kevin Haney
Power Ratings for Two Card Draws in Deuce to Seven Triple Draw Lowball
by Kevin Haney
by Kevin Haney
Poker Faces in the Crowd: Michael Groetsch
by Ben Saxton
by Ben Saxton
Status of Las Vegas Poker, Autumn, 2019
by Bryan Clark
by Bryan Clark
It’s Good to be the CEO
by Felipe Garcia, CFA and Aaron Byrd, CFA
by Felipe Garcia, CFA and Aaron Byrd, CFA
Hitting the Destination on the Road to Zero
by Nick Willett
by Nick Willett
Classic Article: Fundamentals of Poker - Introduction
by Mason Malmuth
by Mason Malmuth
On This Page
Introduction
Texas Holdem No Limit Starting Hand Chart
Rules
- A single 52-card deck is used. All cards count as its poker value. Aces may be high or low.
- One player is designated as the dealer, usually with a laminated marker. This person does not have to physically deal the game. However it is important that a symbolic dealer position rotate around the table.
- The player to the dealer's left must make a 'small blind' bet. The player to the left of the small blind must make a 'big blind' bet. The amounts of both blinds should be specified in advance. The purpose of the blinds is to get the ball rolling with some money in the pot.
- Two cards shall be dealt down to each player, starting with the person to the dealer's left.
- The player to the left of the big blind must either call or raise the big blind bet. The play in turn will go around the table according to normal poker rules, which I assume the reader already knows. Table rules will specify any limits on the size or number of allowed raises.
- The small blind may also raise the big blind. If nobody raises the big blind the player making the big blind has the option to raise his own bet. The term for this is the 'big blind option.'
- Three community cards will be dealt face up in the center of the table. This is called the 'flop.'
- Another round of betting will ensue, starting with the player to the dealer's left.
- A fourth community card will be dealt face up in the center of the table. This card is called the 'turn.'
- Another round of betting will ensue, starting with the player to the dealer's left. Generally the minimum bet is double the first two rounds of betting.
- A fifth and final community card will be dealt face up in the center of the table. This card is called the 'river.'
- Another round of betting will ensue, starting with the player to the dealer's left. The minimum bet is generally the same as the previous round.
- Each player still in the game at the end will determine the highest poker value among his own two cards and the five community cards. It is NOT a requirement that the player use both of his own cards. The player with the hand of highest poker value shall win. Following are the hand rankings.
- Straight flush: Five consecutive and suited cards. For example 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
- Four of a kind: Four cards of the same rank, plus any fifth card. For example Q, Q, Q, Q ,4.
- Full house: Three of a kind and a pair. For example 6, 6, 6, J , J.
- Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, except for a higher ranking straight flush. For example A, Q, 8, 4 , 3.
- Straight: Five consecutive cards, except for a higher ranking straight flush. For example 8, 9, 10, J, Q.
- Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank, plus any other two cards. For example 5, 5, 5, Q ,2 .
- Two pair: Two pairs, plus any fifth card. For example 8, 8, 2, 2 ,Q .
- Pair: A pair and any other three cards. For example 7, 7, 2, 5 ,A .
- ? High: Any five cards that do not form any higher poker hand. A king high hand for example might be K, Q, 7, 5 ,4 .
- If two or more players have poker values of the same rank then the individual cards will be used to break the tie. If necessary all five cards will be considered.
- I get asked a lot whether the two unused cards in a player's hand are used to break a tie. The answer is a firm NO. The two unused cards do not matter.
- If a new player arrives at the table he should either wait for the big blind position or put up an amount equal to the big blind, amounting to a call of the big blind.
- If a bet is made after another player runs out of money, then a separate pot is created. The player that ran out of money is not eligible to win the second pot. If more than one player runs out of money then multiple separate pots can be created.
- In formal games players may not bet with cash or buy chips with cash in the middle of a hand.
- There are numerous rules of etiquette, which I won't get into.
- There house may set the betting rules. There are three main types. A 'structured' game features raises of specified amounts. For example a '3/6 game' would mean that raises after the deal and flop are $3, and after the turn and river are $6. There is usually a limit to the number of raises a player may make, typically three. A 'pot limit' game has structured minimum raises but the maximum raise may be anything up to the amount in the pot at the time the raise is made. A 'no limit' game also has structured minimum raises but there is no maximum raise.
Examples
Example 1
Board: A, 2, 4, 5, 6
Player 1: J, 6
Player 2: 7, Q
Player 1: J, 6
Player 2: 7, Q
Player 1 wins. Both have an ace high flush, so the second highest card is considered. Player 1's jack beats player 2's 7. The only way to have a flush tie is if the flush is entirely on the board and no hole cards are higher than the lowest card on the board in the same suit.
Example 2
Board: J, A, 7, 5, 6
Player 1: 2, J
Player 2: 10, J
Player 1: 2, J
Player 2: 10, J
Player 2 wins. Both have a pair of jacks so the singletons are considered. High highet singleton in both hands is an ace so the second highest singleton is considered. Player 1's second highest singleton is a 7, compared to player 2's 10. A 10 beats a 7 so player 2 wins.
Example 3
Board: A, A, K, Q, J
Player 1: Q, J
Player 2: Q, 2
Player 1: Q, J
Player 2: Q, 2
Tie. Both have a two pair of aces and queens, with a king singleton. Some people incorrectly believe that in such cases the unused cards are considered, in this case player 1's pair of jacks beating player 2's jack/2. Only the top five cards matter. The jacks and deuce are irrelevant.
One of the most important aspects of Texas Hold'em is the value of each two-card hand before the flop. The decision of how to play your first two cards is something you face every hand, and the value of your first two cards is highly correlated to your probability of winning.
The following table shows my power rating for each initial 2-card hand in a 10-player game. The numbers are on a 0 to 40 scale. Basically, you should only play hands that are dark green, blue, or purple. Of course you should be more be more liberal in late position and picky in early position. If forced I would say you should need 10 points in late position and 19 points in early position to call the big blind. If your table is loose, as if often the case online, you can play a bit looser yourself.
Use the top table if you have a pair, the middle table if your cards are suited, and the bottom table if your cards are unsuited. Except for a pair,look up your high card along the left and your low card along the top.
Following are the links to my tables of the value of each intial hand according to the number of players. The 10-player section explains the methodology for creating the table table.
Pot Odds
Poker Starting Hands Chart
The following table shows the probability of making various hands after the flop and the correct 'pot odds.' The pot odds are the breakeven ratio of money in the pot to the amount you have to bet for the player to be indifferent about calling, assuming the player would definitely win if he makes the hand (a big if) and there are no additional bets (another big if). This table is a good starting point the player should make mental adjustments for the probability of winning without making the hand, losing with making the hand, and expected future bets. The odds of a two pair improving to a full house are the same as those for four to an inside straight.
Pot Odds — After Flop
Hand | Probability of Making Hand | Pot Odds |
---|---|---|
Four to a flush | 34.97% | 1.86 |
Four to an outside straight | 31.45% | 2.18 |
Four to an inside straight | 16.47% | 5.07 |
The next table shows the pot odds after the turn.
Pot Odds — After Turn
Hand | Probability of Making Hand | Pot Odds |
---|---|---|
4 to a flush | 19.57% | 4.11 |
4 to an outside straight | 17.39% | 4.75 |
4 to an inside straight | 8.70% | 10.50 |
Texas Holdem Best Starting Hands Chart
Hand Strength Calculator
I'm proud to present my new and improved Poker Odds Calculator. Enter any situation in Texas Hold 'Em, and it will tell you the probability of each possible outcome.
Poker Tournament Calculator
My Poker Tournament Calculator will determine each player's probability, for up to nine players, of finishing in each place, and his expected share of any prize pool, assuming equal skill among all players. It produces the same results as what is known as the Independent Chip Model.
Internal Links
Texas Holdem Starting Hands Ranking Chart
- Pinapple — Strategy and analysis of which card to discard before the flop.
- Bad Beat Jackpots: What is the Probability of Hitting one?
- Texas Hold 'Em Dominated Hand Probabilities: What is the probability one of your opponents has similar, and better, hole cards than yours?