Playable Hands...

Inevitably there are certain cards which, when dealt, give you a much greater advantage for the winning the pot. Knowing which hand to play is fundamental if you are to be successful at Texas Hold’em. Below is a guide to the best and worst 'starting hands' in poker, remember these are starting hands or pocket cards i.e. the cards you are dealt at the beginning of the game - the strength of these hands may improve or weaken after the 'flop', 'turn' and 'river'.

Top Cards

When you’re dealt Aces, Kings or Ace King suited you can and should raise before the flop. This will drive out the draw hands – those waiting on cards to complete a hand. Be careful with this though - if you’re playing on 'limit tables' or tables with very small blinds, raising and re-raising before the flop may not push out those players with drawing hands.

Strong Cards

If some of these look familiar from the Top Cards section then look closer. You’ll notice that in the Top Cards section the mixed cards were suited i.e. the Ace and King were both Spades.

The cards here have a strong flush or straight draw chance (see Hand Rankings). The pairs of 10’s and 9’s are included as these are on the high end of the rankings. With these cards, look to raise in a late position (see poker terms ) if possible because although they are good, you still need the flop to help you get a winning hand!

Decent Pocket Cards

Not the worst cards in the world to get but you will be depending on help from the table to make anything out of them. Try to see the flop as cheaply as possible before raising on these and if everybody is betting on their hands before you then it could be wise to fold.

Barely Playable Cards

A small miracle is needed from the table to get you anything with these cards. If you can get the flop cheap then it may be worth playing them as many are draw hands to flushes and straights but otherwise you’ll need to pray hard or bin them! The might be worth playing if nearly everyone folds in front of you, or if you're on the button. Any other card combinations not mentioned here should have you folding faster than Superman on laundry day.