What are the Best Starting Hands in Poker: Complete Guide

When you're learning how to play Texas Hold'em, one of the most important things to understand is which starting hands are worth playing and which ones you should just toss into the muck. In this article, we’ll walk you through the strongest hands in Texas Hold’em and share simple strategies to help you make the most of your cards and win. Let’ roll!

10 Best Starting Hands in Texas Hold’em

Not all starting hands in poker are created equal. Some give you a big advantage even before the flop hits the table. While the probabilities of being dealt these premium hands are low, they’re absolutely worth the wait. Here are the 10 best starting hands in Texas Hold’em, along with tips on how to play them for maximum value:

Pocket Aces – AA

First up, we’ve got the king of all starting hands: Pocket Aces (AA).

This hand is a beast — you’re ahead of every other hand pre-flop, and you should almost always raise or re-raise when you get it. Don’t slow-play unless you’re against extremely tight players. Get money in early and reduce the number of opponents. It’s strong, but not invincible. Watch out for weird flops that connect with multiple players.

Pocket Kings – KK

Right behind AA is Pocket Kings (KK), also known as “Cowboys.” They dominate nearly every hand except Aces, so play them confidently. That said, if an Ace hits the flop and your opponent starts betting big, it might be time to tap the brakes. Still, most of the time, this is a premium hand to raise and build the pot with.

Pocket Queens – QQ

Next, we’ve got Pocket Queens (QQ), powerful but a bit more vulnerable. You’ll love them pre-flop, but be extra alert post-flop if a King or Ace shows up. In most cases, raise with them, but be ready to fold if things get dicey and you're facing serious aggression.

Ace King Suited – AKs

Then comes Ace-King Suited (AKs), aka "Big Slick." This hand isn’t made yet, but it has massive potential. If you hit a pair, it’s the top pair with the top kicker. If not, you’ve still got flush or straight draws. It’s a strong hand to raise with, and you can keep the pressure on after the flop if you pick up something decent.

Pocket Jacks – JJ

Pocket Jacks (JJ) is where things get tricky. They’re solid as they are better than most hands, but they often run into overcards like Queens, Kings, or Aces. So raise pre-flop, but stay sharp. If the board looks dangerous and your opponent is going hard, don’t get too attached.

Ace King Off-Suit – AK

Coming next is Ace-King Off-Suit (AK). They are similar to AKs, just without the flush potential. Still, it’s a high-card powerhouse that can win big when it connects. You’ll want to raise with this hand pre-flop, especially from the middle or late positions, and be ready to fold if you completely miss the flop and get reraised.

Ace-Queen Suited – AQs

Ace-Queen Suited (AQs) is a hand that offers strong top-pair potential and great flush possibilities. It's a solid hand, but keep in mind it can get dominated by hands like AK. Use it to open pots or even 3-bet in late position, but play it carefully if you’re facing a lot of heat.

Ace Jack Suited – AJs

With Ace-Jack Suited (AJs), you’re looking at similar possibilities: top pair, flushes, and even the occasional straight. But you’ve got to be cautious. AJs is a beautiful hand to look at, but it’s easily dominated by stronger aces. Use it mostly from the middle or late position, where you can better control the action.

King Queen Suited – KQs

Now King-Queen Suited (KQs). This one is a personal favorite for many players. It’s not just pretty; it connects well for straights, and being suited gives you flush potential. It’s great to play in a late position, especially if you’re the aggressor. Just be careful not to overvalue it against raises from tight players.

Pocket Tens – TT

Lastly, there’s Pocket Tens (TT). This hand is solid but can get awkward fast. It beats most unpaired hands pre-flop, but the second a Jack, Queen, King, or Ace hits the board, you’re in that “do I keep going?” zone. Best strategy? Raise to thin the field, and then tread carefully post-flop.

Texas Hold'em Starting Hands Ranked

Other Good Starting Hands in Texas Hold’em

While the top 10 hands get most of the attention, there are plenty of other starting hands in Texas Hold’em that can be profitable when played correctly, especially in the right situation. Let’s break them down and see why they’re worth keeping in your pre-flop toolbox.

Aces

Everyone knows Pocket Aces (AA) are the ultimate hand pre-flop, but don’t sleep on non-paired Aces like Ace-Ten (AT) or Ace-Nine suited (A9s). These hands can pack a serious punch, especially when they’re suited.

Why? Because they give you a shot at landing top pair with a strong kicker, or even better, making the nut flush. They’re the kind of hands that let you take control, especially from late position, where aggression pays off.

Examples: A♥ 9♥ / A♣ T♣

Play these more confidently from the middle to late position, especially if they’re suited. From an early position, stick to stronger Ace combos like ATs or better.

Other Pocket Pairs

Pocket pairs aren’t all created equal, but even the smaller ones, like Nines through Twos, have sneaky strength. The real magic happens when you hit a set on the flop. Suddenly, your quiet little pair turns into a monster, and your opponents usually won’t see it coming.

If the flop is low and dry, your set can dominate hands with overcards. These hands might look harmless, but they’re often your ticket to big, disguised pots when the stars align.

Examples: 9♠ 9♦ / 6♥ 6♣ / 2♠ 2♣

Play small to medium pairs to hit a set. Call raises if the stacks are deep enough to make it worthwhile. Don’t get married to them if you miss the flop.

Suited Connectors

Hands like 8♠ 9♠ or 5♦ 6♦ may not look flashy pre-flop, but once the community cards are down, they come alive. Suited connectors give you tons of ways to win, like flushes, straights, and even strong top pairs.

They’re also fantastic for bluffing and semi-bluffing because they can hit in so many unexpected ways. And when you do land that hidden straight or flush? Boom! Big pot, and your opponents never saw it coming.

Examples: 7♣ 8♣ / 5♦ 6♦

Best played from late position or in multi-way pots. If the flop gives you a draw, you can apply pressure or call and chase depending on pot odds.

Suited Gappers

Now, let’s talk about the wildcards: suited gappers. Think hands like 6♠ 8♠. They’re like suited connectors with a twist: a gap in the middle. That little skip makes straights a bit trickier to hit, but they still carry plenty of potential. Flushes? Absolutely. Straights? Still possible.

And because they’re not super common, they’re great for catching people off guard. Play them in position, especially with deeper stacks, and you’ve got a sneaky weapon that can deliver big results.

Examples: 6♠ 8♠ / 9♦ J♦

Use these hands as speculative plays, especially in position. Don’t go crazy pre-flop, but if you hit a draw or a big hand, they can pay off handsomely.

Playing Positions in Texas Hold’em

You might wonder if poker is all about the cards, but in reality, your position at the table can be just as important as the starting hand you’re holding. You could have a decent hand, but if you're in the wrong seat, it might not be worth playing. On the flip side, you can turn a medium-strength hand into a winner just by being in the right position. So if you’re serious about improving, understanding table position is a must.

What Is "Position" in Poker?

In Texas Hold’em, position refers to where you sit concerning the dealer button, and more importantly, when you act in each betting round.

• Players closest to the left of the dealer act first, which puts them at a disadvantage.

• Players on or near the dealer button act last, giving them the most information before they make a decision — a huge advantage.

Below we show the full playing positions in a 9-max game. Note that in 6-max games, there are fewer players, so positions like UTG become more aggressive by nature.

Position Name	Abbreviation	Relative Strength
Under the Gun	UTG	Early Position
Under the Gun +1	UTG+1	Early Position
Middle Position	MP	Middle Position
Lowjack	LJ	Middle Position
Hijack	HJ	Late Position
Cutoff	CO	Late Position
Button	BTN	Late Position
Small Blind	SB	Blind
Big Blind	BB	Blind

Let’s break down the best strategies by position so you can start playing smarter and winning more.

Early Position (UTG, UTG+1)

In early positions, you're the first to act, meaning you’re flying blind with zero info on what others might do. That’s why you need to play it safe and stick to premium hands. Think big pairs like AA through TT, and strong high-card combos like AK and AQ.

Occasionally, you can mix in AJs or KQs, but only if the table feels passive. Avoid getting fancy with suited connectors or small pocket pairs since they’re just not worth the risk here. When in doubt, fold. Playing tight from an early position is the name of the game.

Middle Position (MP, Lowjack)

Now things start to open up. In middle positions, you're still lacking full information, but you’re in a much better spot than in the early position. Along with all the hands you’d play earlier, you can now add more value hands like AJs, ATs, KQ, QJs, and even small pocket pairs.

If you’re confident in your post-flop play, suited connectors can also be worth a look. It’s a great time to start thinking about pot control, calculated aggression, and reading your opponents a bit more actively.

Late Position (Hijack, Cutoff, Button)

Here’s where the real fun begins. Playing from late positions gives you a major edge because you get to see how everyone else acts before making your move. You can play a much wider range of hands, everything from the early and middle positions, plus suited connectors like 76s, one-gappers like 97s, weaker suited Aces like A5s, and even off-suit broadways like KJ or QJ. 

This is the perfect time to apply pressure, raise lighter to steal blinds, and bluff or semi-bluff with confidence. Position gives you power, so don’t waste it. Be creative and take advantage of the info in front of you.

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If you're not sure which hands to play from each position, don't worry, that's exactly what the chart below is for. It's designed to help you make better pre-flop decisions by showing you which hands are worth playing based on where you're sitting at the table.

Just find your hand on the grid (like A♠ J♠ or 7♣ 8♣), then check the color.

• Dark green = Play from any position

• Light green = Play from the middle or late position

• Orange = Late position only

• Red = Unplayable in most cases

Use this as a quick reference while you’re learning. It’ll keep you from jumping into bad spots and help you build good habits early on.

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Knowing your starting hand strength is important, but knowing when to play them based on your position is what really makes a winning player. Don’t just memorize the best hands. Learn how to adjust your strategy depending on where you sit, and you’ll find yourself making more confident, profitable decisions every time you play. Ready to level up your poker skills?

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