Texas Holdem Strategy – Starting Hands


In this Texas Hold’em Strategy section, we’re going to offer an in-depth examination of Starting Hands. From what starting hands are suitable for advancement, to how they should be played, we’ll expose a proven Texas Hold’em Strategy for Starting Hands.

Texas Holdem Strategy – Starting Hand Selection

First off, we’d like to discuss a player’s position and how in determines the eligibility of a Starting Hand. The strength of your Starting Hand in Texas Holdem is largely based on your seating position. If you’re under the gun (first to act, after the Big Blind), your hands loses strength. If you’re on the Button, or in a Blind position, your hand gains strength. A Premium Starting Hand is good in any position, but how you react in betting situations may change.

Texas Holdem Strategy – Premium Starting Hands

These are the hands that should be played no matter what position you are sitting in.

  • Pocket Aces or Kings: Raise/Re-Raise from any position.
  • Pocket Pair, Queens or Jacks: Raise from early position, Raise/Re-Raise High from late position.
  • A-K, suited: Call or Raise from early position, Raise/Re-Raise from late position.
  • A-Q, suited: Call or Raise from any position.

These are the best Starting Hands you can be dealt in Texas Hold’em poker.

Texas Holdem Strategy – Great Starting Hands

These Starting Hands are not as valuable as Premium Starting Hands, but should still be played from any position.

  • Pocket Pair, 6–10: Bet/Call from early position, Raise or Call a Raise from late position.
  • High Suited Connectors: Bet/Call from early position, Raise or Call a Raise from late position.
  • High Connectors: Bet/Call from any position.

Texas Holdem Strategy – Good Starting Hands

These are considered marginal Starting Hands, and should only be played from late position if none have placed a significant Raise before your turn to act.

  • Pocket Pair 2-5: Check/Fold from early position, Call from late position, Raise on the Button.
  • Low Suited Connectors: Check/Fold from early position, Call from late position.
  • Ace + Anything Suited: Check/Fold from early position, Call from late position.

Texas Holdem Strategy – Late Position Bluffing

A player can greatly expand their Texas Holdem strategy when sitting in late position. Being on the Button or in Blind position gives you the opportunity to see the reaction of all players who act before you. Based on this information, the option the Bluff comes into play.

A Bluff should only be made on rare occasion to avoid developing a visible pattern. To pull off a Bluff, you need every player before you to have Folded, or only one Limper to remain. [Note: Limp means to Call the Big Blind without Raising.] A successful Bluff is a large Raise that will discourage the Blind bettors from Calling. This is known as “Stealing the Blinds”, and can be a very effective way of keeping your chip stack on the rise in between Premium Starting Hands. The Small Blind Bettor can also attempt to Steal the Big Blind in this manner.