Top 10 Best Starting Hands For Texas Hold 'em Poker : Beginner's Place

One of the keys to being a strong Texas Hold 'Em Poker player is to know which hands are playable and which are not. This list of the top 10 best starting hands for Texas Holdem is a good place to start learning. Note that there is some disagreement over which hands are the best, and it depends on part on your skill level and style of play. And a great starting hand can turn bad quickly with the wrong community cards. This list reflects a consensus of the resources I trust the most.

1. Ace-Ace
A pair of aces, also known as "pocket rockets" (and sometimes "American Airlines") is the best starting hand.

2. King-King
Second on the list is a pair of kings, also known as "cowboys" or "King Kong."

3. Queen-Queen
A pair of queens, also known as "ladies," rounds out the top three best starting hands for Texas Holdem Poker.

4. Ace-King (suited)
This is where people start to disagree. A suited ace-king, also known as "big slick," is my pick.

5. Ace-Queen (suited)
The suited "big chick," or "little slick," the nicknames given to a pocket ace-queen, is next in line.

6. Jack-Jack
A pair of jacks -- also known as "hooks" or "fishhooks" -- checks in at number six on my list.

7. King-Queen (suited)
A suited royal couple, king-queen, is next in the list of Texas Hold 'Em Poker's most powerful starting hands.

8. Ace-Jack (suited)
Nicknamed "blackjack" for obvious reasons, and sometimes called "ajax," the ace-jack combo rates eighth.

9. Ace-King (offsuit)
Only one offsuit non-pair makes it into the list of the top 10 best starting hands for Texas Holdem Poker -- the "big slick," an ace-king.

10. 10-10
This is the only starting hand in the top 10 without a face card: a pair of tens (aka "dimes").

everyone knows it but anyway useful info

Don't be so sure that everyone does Anyway, nice info here

It was new for me

And for me these are new things

I don't know, that does not make any sense for me.

I tried to use odds calculator, you have more chances to win with JJ against AK suited (like 53.68% against 45.94% and a possibility of 0.38% getting tie) but still AK suited is ranked better here.

Markas wrote:I don't know, that does not make any sense for me.

I tried to use odds calculator, you have more chances to win with JJ against AK suited (like 53.68% against 45.94% and a possibility of 0.38% getting tie) but still AK suited is ranked better here.

Odds calculator shows odds at that moment.
Just try to count by yourself... and you'll see that AK wins in more situations (I mean 1x1).

It was new for me too

I would put AKo over AQs..

Markas wrote:I don't know, that does not make any sense for me.

I tried to use odds calculator, you have more chances to win with JJ against AK suited (like 53.68% against 45.94% and a possibility of 0.38% getting tie) but still AK suited is ranked better here.

True.JJ is better than AKs because AKs need to improve and atleast hit another ace or king if you want to win with this hand.Actually I think that this reply of top 10 best starting hands is wrong.According David Sklansky TOP10 BEST STARTING HANDS is :
1.AA
2.KK
3.QQ
4.JJ
5.Aks
6.TT
7.Aqs
8.Ajs
9.KQs
10.AK

Cru3LL wrote:True.JJ is better than AKs because AKs need to improve and atleast hit another ace or king if you want to win with this hand.Actually I think that this reply of top 10 best starting hands is wrong.According David Sklansky TOP10 BEST STARTING HANDS is :
1.AA
2.KK
3.QQ
4.JJ
5.Aks
6.TT
7.Aqs
8.Ajs
9.KQs
10.AK

I'm not sure if i'd agree with your list especially when it comes to the point to JJ being the 4th best starting hand. There are too many overcards for JJ being a strong hand and this hand loses very very often against other hands.

A few weaks ago, i had a coinflip problem. Lost like 15 coinflips with AK preflop all-in. I always run into QQ/JJ/KK, and i dont catch anything on the board. That was a terrible week...

Emis wrote:A few weaks ago, i had a coinflip problem. Lost like 15 coinflips with AK preflop all-in. I always run into QQ/JJ/KK, and i dont catch anything on the board. That was a terrible week...

Man, don't be silly.How you could go all-in preflop with only high card?Damn, even with 22 I would beat you....I think it wasn't terrible week, but very bad your play.btw if someone raise, remember, you don't need to instant go all-in, try to just call and then if you don't hit anything - easy fold.

:huh:

Cru3LL wrote:Man, don't be silly.How you could go all-in preflop with only high card?Damn, even with 22 I would beat you....I think it wasn't terrible week, but very bad your play.btw if someone raise, remember, you don't need to instant go all-in, try to just call and then if you don't hit anything - easy fold.

even pros go all in with AK :wacko: