Top 10 Worst Starting Hands in Texas Holdem
Loading ...Sure, you know that a pair of aces are the best hand in Texas Hold’em, but do you know the worst starting hands? Knowing that these hands are almost-always-fold’em hands in hold’em is just as important to improving your poker game and not playing like a donkey.
Some of these “worst hands” are bad in the same way and will lose at about the same rate, so I’ve called them ties, even when one is a slightly better hand.
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1. 2-7 7-2 off suit is considered the worst hand in Texas Hold’em. They are the lowest two cards you can have that cannot make a straight (there’s 4 cards between 2 and 7). Even if they are suited, they will make you a very low flush, and if either pairs, it’s an awfully low hand. Because it is the worst, some players will play it for fun and in online games, it is known as “the hammer.” |
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2. 2-8 This is the same basic problem as above, only you’ve got an 8 instead of a 7. Still pretty bad for a high card. Suited or not, this is a fold’em hold’em hand. |
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3. 3-8 & 3-7 The 3 makes this hand able to beat the two above it, but with the 3-8 you still can’t make a straight and the 3-7 still, well, just sucks. |
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4. 2-6 While, if the board gives you a miracle flop of 3-4-5, you will have a straight, someone with a 6-7 will have a higher straight. If you get a flush, someone will probably have a higher flush. Against even 4 players, this hand will lose about 90% of the time. Not good odds. |
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5. 2-9, 3-9 & 4-9 (tie) The only thing these three hands have going for them over the hands above is the 9. If the 9 pairs, you’ll have a middle pair that could still be beat by anyone holding pocket 10s, jacks, queens, kings, or aces, yet you might be fooled by a board filled with low cards into thinking you have the best hand and losing a lot of money. No straights can fill the gap between these cards, either. Beware. |
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6. 2-10 This hand has a legendary quality because Doyle Brunson captured two World Series of Poker Bracelets with it. But it’s not a good hand — Doyle Brunson is one of the all-time best in the game and unless you’re a Texas road gambler who’s logged thousands of hours at the table, you shouldn’t try and win with the Doyle Brunson. |
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7. 5-9 Another hand people play because it’s fun is the old 9 to 5, the “Dolly Parton.” If you’re playing to win, it’s not a good idea to play hands because they have a funny name. That may be how you pick the winning horse in a race, but poker’s a marathon, not a sprint, and over the long term there’s no doubt this hand is a statistical loser. |
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8. 4-7, 4-8, 5-8, 3-6… (tie) All these hands will rarely win, especially unsuited. Toss ‘em. Just toss’em. Yes, even in the little blind. If you see two low cards in the hole, unless you’re in the big blind and you can see the flop for free, fold. |
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9. Face card + low card (unsuited) One of the most common mistakes I see beginners make is that when they see any paint in their hand, they play it. J-2, Q-3, K-4 whatever — and most of these hands are losers. They’re junk that may win a few pots, but more often will lose you huge cash when you find the other player has a higher kicker and the winning hand. |
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10. Ace + low card (unsuited) This is another common beginner mistake, playing any ace. Again, it may win occasionally, and heads-up it’s a fine hand, but at a table of 4 or more, this hand shouldn’t be played if there’s a raise in front of you. You’re going to be outkicked a lot with Ace-little, and it’s going to feel like a kick in the junk when the other player shows their higher ace. |
Everythingaboutpoker.com · Filed Under How to Play Poker
Top 10 Texas Holdem Starting Hands
Loading ...To become a good Texas Hold ‘Em Poker player, you have to know which hands you should play and which hands you should fold. You can win with any hand when playing Texas Holdem or poker in general, but some hands win more frequently than others. If you stick with the good hands, then you should see better results in the long run. This list of the top 10 best starting hands for Texas Holdem is a good way to start learning how to become a better player and make some profits.
1. Ace-Ace
The pair of aces, which is also known as “pocket rockets” and sometimes referred as “American Airlines” is the best starting hand you can get for Texas Hold’em poker.
2. King-King
The second best starting hand for Texas Hold’em poker is the mighty pair of kings, which is often referred to as “cowboys” and also “King Kong”.
3. Queen-Queen
Next, we have the pair of queens, which is also known as “ladies.” This pair rounds out the top three best starting hands for Texas Hold’em poker.
4. Ace-King (suited)
Some people tend to disagree with this choice, but I think a suited ace-king, which is often referred to as the “big slick”, is the best pick for fourth place.
5. Ace-Queen (suited)
Often referred to as the “big chick” or the “little slick”, the ace-queen combination in the same suit is our fifth best starting hand for Texas Hold’em poker.
6. Jack-Jack
The pair of jacks, which is often referred to as “hooks” or “fishhooks” by Texas Hold’em poker players around the world, is the next best starting hand.
7. King-Queen (suited)
The royal couple formed by the king and queen in the same suit makes the list as the seventh most powerful Texas Hold’em poker’s starting hand.
8. Ace-Jack (suited)
Nicknamed the “blackjack” for obvious reasons, and sometimes referred to as the “ajax,” the suited ace-jack combination rates eighth in our top 10 list.
9. Ace-King (offsuit)
The ace-king, also know as the “big slick”, is the only offsuit non-pair that makes it into the list of the top 10 best starting hands for Texas Holdem Poker.
10. Ten-Ten
Last but not least is the pair of tens. It should be noted that this is the only starting hand that made it into our top 10 without a face card. Often called as a pair of “dimes.”
Continual Evaluation
As you play poker and continue to gain experience from this fantastic game, you can expand your starting hand selection and experiment a bit. But if you are a beginner it is strongly recommended that you stick to the top 10 list to give yourself the best chance to earn cash from poker. Never forget that if you are entering pots with weak hands, then you should be expecting to lose money. So don’t be tempted to enter a pot with any sub standard hand because it looks good or it is suited, as it will probably land you in some trouble. Stick with the big hands and you won’t go wrong in the long run.
Everythingaboutpoker.com · Filed Under How to Play Poker
Strategy tips for Texas Hold’em
Loading ...You can bet with just an ace or two minor overcards on the flop, but you should fold if someone raises your bet in that situation. If someone bets before you on the flop you can call with two overcards, but fold them at the turn unless your hand improves then. You can call with two major overcards (eg A-J) if someone raises your bet on the flop. You can also check-call a bet on the turn with that kind of hand, unless the board looks threatening.
Everythingaboutpoker.com · Filed Under Poker Strategy
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