Texas Hold’em

A gentleman by the name of David Sklansky analysed hands in a multitude of games and created a starting hands chart many of the world’s best players consider as a standard.

These starting hands charts are not from hand simulations, but from observations of actual games, meaning they show actual hands average players have used and the expected values, or average number of so-called big blinds likely to be made or lost.

The Texas Hold’Em EV starting hands chart created by Sklansky shows that a rocket pocket, two Aces, from a small blind game of $3/$6 will, on average, makes the big blind 2.71 times. In other words, it will make 2.71 times $6, or $16.20 for each hand.

In comparison, according to the starting hands chart, a pair of Twos from the dealer position, or Button, as it is often called, can be expected to make the big blind -0.12 times, effectively producing -$0.72 in the $3/$6 Texas Hold’Em game.

Players using these starting hands charts tend to greatly enhance their chances of making money at Texas Hold’Em over time by only playing the hands expected to have a profitable value. It is, of course, wise to remember that these expected values refer to average play, which may not be played in the way of a particular player.

Naturally, games still have to be played tactically, complete with observations, taking notes, calculating odds and watching out for traps. Each hand needs to be played according to the current situation, rather than sticking to a hand because it is supposed to be a so-called long term winner. Let’s face it, Texas Hold’Em is just as much a game of knowing when one should fold’em.

Importance of Positions in Texas Hold’Em Games
It becomes clear from the starting hands chart that the value placed on position is a most important aspect when considering a hand. In a game of Texas Hold’Em, the position one is in can have supply a great advantage and it is best to be as near as possible to the Button, or dealer, because the Button will be the last in line to take action after the so-called flop.

This is because in this position, players often bet or call with much weaker hands than they would normally play. It is also a case of people acting after a player being able to observe actions, make trick moves or, if necessary, steal the pot. This is the reason many expert players of Texas Hold’Em say that if the game is closely observed, money has a tendency to flow towards the dealer, or the Button.

This subsequently means that questionable hands, such as facecards and tens, tens and nines and maybe even combinations of Kings or Queens and Jacks should be dropped in early positions as a measure of tightening up one’s starting hands early in any particular game of Texas Hold’Em.

The starting hands chart clearly reveals that these kind of hands are likely to lose money over time. In a later position, players can rela their starting hands to include these combinations.

In Texas Hold’Em, the starting hands are a key to success. This does not mean that the starting hand strategy should be all about getting those big cards and getting on with winning. There is another side to it, namely trying to avoid getting into a situation where one calls down with a hand of weak cards. It is easy to get out-kicked and players should remember that in a game of Texas Hold’Em poker, a saved bet is equal to an earned bet.

Learning to recognise the best starting hands, say, for Texas Hold’Em poker, one of the most frequently played games poker has on offer, will make the game altogether more enjoyable and should not be dismissed easily.

There are many players out there who look at their starting hands with misguided theories, such as, for instance, the belief that if the cards are of the same suit it has to be a good thing. To be perfectly honest, if a suited hand increases one’s winning chances at all, it will only be by an average of about 3%, nothing much worth relying on.

Although there are obviously some disagreements among varying players as to what really constitutes the best starting hands, partly depending on each individual player’s style and skill level, most players will agree that the hands detailed below are usually not at all to be sniffed at.

One should, of course, remember that in some games poker players find that even the best starting hands may turn sour if the wrong kind of community cards are turned up. This, of course, is the luck of the game and the real skill of a player will be proven by what happens next.

Winning Games Poker Starting Hands

Here are the ten best starting hands, at least according to a large proportion of poker players, one could possibly be dealt. The hands are listed in order of priority, or in other words, the best hand is first, then the second best and so on.

Known often as pocket rockets, or occasionally referred to as American Airlines, a set of two Aces is the best possible hand a player could have to start with. A great many of the games poker players start with this hand are ultimately won by them.

This is followed by another pair, this time of Kings, often called King Kong or cowboys by players, as the second best hand to get dealt. This is another starting hand in games poker players have a good chance of winning.

The top trio of excellent starting hands in games poker players like to see is completed by a pair of ladies, as many poker players will call them, namely Queens.

The next promising combination is the so-called big slick, consisting of a suited Ace and King combination. This is one of the first hands dealt in games poker players disagree on.

Number five in this list of best starting hands is the little slick or big chick, depending on who is playing, which consists of a suited Ace/ Queen combination.

The sixth favourite hand in games poker players can do quite a lot with is the hand known as hooks, otherwise known as fishhooks, which consists of two Jacks.

The royal couple, a suited King and Queen combination, is number seven on the list of hands in games poker players feel they may have a good chance of winning.

Among the ten best starting hands listed here, the number eight is represented by the so-called blackjack, or ajax, a suited combination of an Ace and a Jack.

Another kind of big slick, or an Ace/ King combination, is the unsuited coupling of the two cards; number nine and the only not suited combination that does not consist of a pair within this list.

The final one in this list of best starting hands is generally known as the dimes. It consists of two Tens, making it the only hand of non-face cards to make it into the list.

It should be mentioned that in many games poker players prefer to see King/ Jack combinations rather than Tens.