Top 10 Best Starting Hands In Texas Hold'em Poker
- Top 10 Best Starting Hands In Texas Hold'em Poker Free Games
- Top 10 Best Starting Hands In Texas Hold'em Poker Poker Games Online No Download
- Top 10 Best Starting Hands In Texas Hold'em Pokerr
So the game of Texas Hold'em is as popular as it has ever been. And dreams are still won (and lost) on the flip of a river card. This is what makes it one of the most exciting card games in the world. As a professional poker player myself for over 10 years now, these are my top 21 Texas Holdem tips that most pros don't want you to know about! Only one offsuit non-pair makes it into my list of the top 10 best starting hands for Texas Holdem Poker — the “big slick,” an ace-king. This is the only starting hand in the top 10 without a face card: a pair of tens (aka “dimes”). Some players believe that a suited king-jack is a stronger starting hand.
As many of you know, Phil Hellmuth is one of the most successful Texas Hold 'em players of all time. I recently read his book, Play Poker Like the Pros, and was very impressed with his Hold 'em Strategy. It is not my intent to plagiarize his book, but no poker strategy site would be complete without mentioning the playing ability and strategy of Phil Hellmuth.
Therefore, I have chosen to reveal and comment on what Hellmuth calls his “Top 10.” When Hellmuth refers to his Top 10, he is talking about pocket card, starting hand requirements. One should note that this isn't a list of the only hands Hellmuth plays, but he does suggest that the poker player can make lots of money in low limit poker, by waiting on these cards and playing them aggressively.
Without further ado, Hellmuth's Top 10:
1. A-A
2. K-K
3. Q-Q
4. A-K suited
5. J-J
6. 10-10
7. 9-9
8. 8-8
9. A-Q suited
10. 7-7
Hellmuth submits that these 10 hands should be the only pocket cards played by the beginner in low limit Texas Hold 'em. This makes the game much simpler before the flop, however, as you can probably guess, the tricks of how to play these 10 hands after the flop can get complicated.
As a general rule though, bet these top 10 hands aggressively. The higher in the ranking, the more aggressively they should be played. Your strategy after the flop will be determined by what hits the board and the actions of your opponents.
Play these top 10 right in low limit Hold 'em games and you will make money. As you build your bankroll and your confidence, you can increase your starting hand requirements.
Meanwhile, I would suggest making a $16 investment in Hellmuth's book, Play Poker Like the Pros. It's not the perfect poker strategy book, and Phil even cautions that he is a no limit player, not a limit player! However, a look inside the mind of a man who has won multiple World Series of Poker bracelets is well worth the $16!
Introduction
The following table ranks the top hands in a 10-player game. This table assumes that all players stay in until the end.
Explanation of column headings:Top 10 Best Starting Hands In Texas Hold'em Poker Free Games
- Cards: Initial two-card hand.
- Probability of win: Probability that this hand will win, or tie for the win.
- Average win: This is how much the player will win on average, including his own bets, if the player does win. This is less than 10 because sometimes the player will have to split the pot.
- Expected value: This is how many units the player can expected to win (positive) or lose (negative) with this hand. For example if the player had a pair of aces and contibuted $1 to the pot then the player could expect to have a net win of $2.11.
- Probability: Probability of getting this hand to begin with.
- Additive probability: Probability of getting this hand or any stronger hand to begin with.
Initial Hold'em Hands in Rank Order for 10-Player Game
Top 10 Best Starting Hands In Texas Hold'em Poker Poker Games Online No Download
| Cards | Probability of Win | Average Win | Expected Value | Probability | Additive Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pair of A's | 31.36% | 9.91 | 2.1071 | 0.45% | 0.45% |
| Pair of K's | 26.43% | 9.87 | 1.6079 | 0.45% | 0.9% |
| Pair of Q's | 22.66% | 9.81 | 1.2224 | 0.45% | 1.36% |
| A/K suited | 21.73% | 9.52 | 1.0688 | 0.3% | 1.66% |
| Pair of J's | 19.84% | 9.74 | 0.9318 | 0.45% | 2.11% |
| A/Q suited | 20.44% | 9.41 | 0.9239 | 0.3% | 2.41% |
| K/Q suited | 19.8% | 9.41 | 0.8639 | 0.3% | 2.71% |
| A/J suited | 19.51% | 9.31 | 0.8159 | 0.3% | 3.02% |
| K/J suited | 18.94% | 9.31 | 0.7636 | 0.3% | 3.32% |
| A/T suited | 18.87% | 9.2 | 0.7353 | 0.3% | 3.62% |
| Q/J suited | 18.55% | 9.28 | 0.7217 | 0.3% | 3.92% |
| A/K unsuited | 18.29% | 9.41 | 0.7209 | 0.9% | 4.83% |
| Pair of T's | 17.76% | 9.65 | 0.7145 | 0.45% | 5.28% |
| K/T suited | 18.34% | 9.21 | 0.689 | 0.3% | 5.58% |
| Q/T suited | 18.04% | 9.19 | 0.6577 | 0.3% | 5.88% |
| J/T suited | 18.07% | 9.16 | 0.6552 | 0.3% | 6.18% |
| Pair of 9's | 16.05% | 9.69 | 0.5559 | 0.45% | 6.64% |
| A/Q unsuited | 16.78% | 9.26 | 0.5539 | 0.9% | 7.54% |
| A/9 suited | 16.87% | 9.12 | 0.5377 | 0.3% | 7.84% |
| K/Q unsuited | 16.3% | 9.26 | 0.5098 | 0.9% | 8.75% |
| K/9 suited | 16.22% | 9.16 | 0.4854 | 0.3% | 9.05% |
| T/9 suited | 16.33% | 9.09 | 0.485 | 0.3% | 9.35% |
| A/8 suited | 16.34% | 9.03 | 0.4756 | 0.3% | 9.65% |
| J/9 suited | 15.96% | 9.12 | 0.4561 | 0.3% | 9.95% |
| Q/9 suited | 15.89% | 9.14 | 0.4527 | 0.3% | 10.26% |
| Pair of 8's | 14.96% | 9.67 | 0.4471 | 0.45% | 10.71% |
| A/5 suited | 16.23% | 8.9 | 0.4447 | 0.3% | 11.01% |
| A/J unsuited | 15.7% | 9.1 | 0.4291 | 0.9% | 11.92% |
| A/7 suited | 15.93% | 8.96 | 0.4272 | 0.3% | 12.22% |
| A/4 suited | 15.88% | 8.94 | 0.4205 | 0.3% | 12.52% |
| A/3 suited | 15.51% | 9 | 0.3957 | 0.3% | 12.82% |
| K/J unsuited | 15.3% | 9.11 | 0.3944 | 0.9% | 13.73% |
| A/6 suited | 15.62% | 8.91 | 0.3916 | 0.3% | 14.03% |
| Q/J unsuited | 15.07% | 9.08 | 0.3687 | 0.9% | 14.93% |
| Pair of 7's | 14.14% | 9.65 | 0.3647 | 0.45% | 15.38% |
| A/2 suited | 15.02% | 9.04 | 0.3579 | 0.3% | 15.69% |
| K/8 suited | 15.03% | 9.03 | 0.3568 | 0.3% | 15.99% |
| T/8 suited | 15.05% | 9 | 0.3556 | 0.3% | 16.29% |
| 9/8 suited | 14.69% | 9.11 | 0.3388 | 0.3% | 16.59% |
| A/T unsuited | 14.93% | 8.94 | 0.3353 | 0.9% | 17.5% |
| J/8 suited | 14.66% | 9.03 | 0.3231 | 0.3% | 17.8% |
| Q/8 suited | 14.61% | 9.04 | 0.3204 | 0.3% | 18.1% |
| K/7 suited | 14.64% | 8.96 | 0.312 | 0.3% | 18.4% |
| K/T unsuited | 14.6% | 8.96 | 0.3086 | 0.9% | 19.31% |
| J/T unsuited | 14.64% | 8.92 | 0.3066 | 0.9% | 20.21% |
| Pair of 6's | 13.51% | 9.64 | 0.3017 | 0.45% | 20.66% |
| Q/T unsuited | 14.45% | 8.94 | 0.2918 | 0.9% | 21.57% |
| K/6 suited | 14.35% | 8.91 | 0.2787 | 0.3% | 21.87% |
| 8/7 suited | 14.03% | 9.08 | 0.2736 | 0.3% | 22.17% |
| K/5 suited | 14.09% | 8.87 | 0.2494 | 0.3% | 22.47% |
| 9/7 suited | 13.81% | 9.04 | 0.2488 | 0.3% | 22.78% |
| Pair of 5's | 12.88% | 9.61 | 0.2379 | 0.45% | 23.23% |
| T/7 suited | 13.82% | 8.91 | 0.2315 | 0.3% | 23.53% |
| K/4 suited | 13.78% | 8.92 | 0.2294 | 0.3% | 23.83% |
| 7/6 suited | 13.54% | 9.06 | 0.2262 | 0.3% | 24.13% |
| Pair of 4's | 12.56% | 9.68 | 0.2155 | 0.45% | 24.59% |
| K/3 suited | 13.49% | 8.99 | 0.212 | 0.3% | 24.89% |
| Q/7 suited | 13.57% | 8.91 | 0.2091 | 0.3% | 25.19% |
| J/7 suited | 13.49% | 8.92 | 0.2026 | 0.3% | 25.49% |
| Pair of 3's | 12.31% | 9.75 | 0.2002 | 0.45% | 25.94% |
| K/2 suited | 13.21% | 9.05 | 0.1955 | 0.3% | 26.24% |
| Pair of 2's | 12.15% | 9.82 | 0.1933 | 0.45% | 26.7% |
| 8/6 suited | 13.2% | 9.01 | 0.1901 | 0.3% | 27% |
| 6/5 suited | 13.14% | 9.04 | 0.1887 | 0.3% | 27.3% |
| Q/6 suited | 13.28% | 8.85 | 0.1754 | 0.3% | 27.6% |
| 5/4 suited | 12.88% | 9.04 | 0.165 | 0.3% | 27.9% |
| Q/5 suited | 13.05% | 8.82 | 0.1509 | 0.3% | 28.21% |
| 7/5 suited | 12.73% | 8.99 | 0.1449 | 0.3% | 28.51% |
| 9/6 suited | 12.74% | 8.95 | 0.1409 | 0.3% | 28.81% |
| T/9 unsuited | 12.87% | 8.8 | 0.1327 | 0.9% | 29.71% |
| Q/4 suited | 12.73% | 8.88 | 0.1301 | 0.3% | 30.02% |
| T/6 suited | 12.72% | 8.79 | 0.1189 | 0.3% | 30.32% |
| A/9 unsuited | 12.74% | 8.77 | 0.118 | 0.9% | 31.22% |
| Q/3 suited | 12.44% | 8.95 | 0.1131 | 0.3% | 31.52% |
| 6/4 suited | 12.22% | 9.06 | 0.1077 | 0.3% | 31.83% |
| J/6 suited | 12.56% | 8.78 | 0.1026 | 0.3% | 32.13% |
| Q/2 suited | 12.17% | 9.02 | 0.0978 | 0.3% | 32.43% |
| J/9 unsuited | 12.36% | 8.81 | 0.0891 | 0.9% | 33.33% |
| 8/5 suited | 12.16% | 8.93 | 0.0856 | 0.3% | 33.63% |
| 5/3 suited | 11.97% | 9.06 | 0.0849 | 0.3% | 33.94% |
| K/9 unsuited | 12.27% | 8.83 | 0.0836 | 0.9% | 34.84% |
| J/5 suited | 12.32% | 8.74 | 0.0763 | 0.3% | 35.14% |
| Q/9 unsuited | 12.11% | 8.82 | 0.0679 | 0.9% | 36.05% |
| J/4 suited | 12.01% | 8.8 | 0.057 | 0.3% | 36.35% |
| A/8 unsuited | 12.16% | 8.63 | 0.0494 | 0.9% | 37.25% |
| 7/4 suited | 11.59% | 8.99 | 0.0421 | 0.3% | 37.56% |
| J/3 suited | 11.74% | 8.88 | 0.042 | 0.3% | 37.86% |
| 4/3 suited | 11.36% | 9.13 | 0.0369 | 0.3% | 38.16% |
| 9/5 suited | 11.7% | 8.85 | 0.0351 | 0.3% | 38.46% |
| J/2 suited | 11.47% | 8.95 | 0.0266 | 0.3% | 38.76% |
| T/5 suited | 11.84% | 8.65 | 0.0243 | 0.3% | 39.06% |
| A/5 unsuited | 12% | 8.45 | 0.0133 | 0.9% | 39.97% |
| 6/3 suited | 11.09% | 9.07 | 0.0056 | 0.3% | 40.27% |
| T/4 suited | 11.53% | 8.71 | 0.0042 | 0.3% | 40.57% |
| A/7 unsuited | 11.71% | 8.51 | -0.0033 | 0.9% | 41.48% |
| T/8 unsuited | 11.48% | 8.63 | -0.0087 | 0.9% | 42.38% |
| T/3 suited | 11.24% | 8.78 | -0.0125 | 0.3% | 42.68% |
| A/4 unsuited | 11.63% | 8.49 | -0.0126 | 0.9% | 43.59% |
| 9/8 unsuited | 11.2% | 8.79 | -0.0158 | 0.9% | 44.49% |
| 8/4 suited | 11.04% | 8.9 | -0.0168 | 0.3% | 44.8% |
| 5/2 suited | 10.83% | 9.07 | -0.0176 | 0.3% | 45.1% |
| T/2 suited | 10.98% | 8.86 | -0.0274 | 0.3% | 45.4% |
| A/3 unsuited | 11.22% | 8.55 | -0.0402 | 0.9% | 46.3% |
| 4/2 suited | 10.47% | 9.16 | -0.041 | 0.3% | 46.61% |
| A/6 unsuited | 11.35% | 8.43 | -0.044 | 0.9% | 47.51% |
| 9/4 suited | 10.73% | 8.8 | -0.0567 | 0.3% | 47.81% |
| J/8 unsuited | 10.94% | 8.63 | -0.0567 | 0.9% | 48.72% |
| K/8 unsuited | 10.97% | 8.6 | -0.0569 | 0.9% | 49.62% |
| 7/3 suited | 10.46% | 8.98 | -0.0603 | 0.3% | 49.92% |
| 9/3 suited | 10.42% | 8.87 | -0.0756 | 0.3% | 50.23% |
| 8/7 unsuited | 10.57% | 8.72 | -0.0777 | 0.9% | 51.13% |
| Q/8 unsuited | 10.7% | 8.62 | -0.0779 | 0.9% | 52.04% |
| A/2 unsuited | 10.7% | 8.6 | -0.0797 | 0.9% | 52.94% |
| 3/2 suited | 9.9% | 9.24 | -0.0848 | 0.3% | 53.24% |
| 9/2 suited | 10.15% | 8.95 | -0.0911 | 0.3% | 53.54% |
| 6/2 suited | 9.96% | 9.06 | -0.0976 | 0.3% | 53.85% |
| K/7 unsuited | 10.54% | 8.48 | -0.1062 | 0.9% | 54.75% |
| 8/3 suited | 10.07% | 8.86 | -0.1076 | 0.3% | 55.05% |
| 9/7 unsuited | 10.24% | 8.65 | -0.1147 | 0.9% | 55.96% |
| 7/6 unsuited | 10.1% | 8.68 | -0.1234 | 0.9% | 56.86% |
| 8/2 suited | 9.78% | 8.94 | -0.1254 | 0.3% | 57.16% |
| T/7 unsuited | 10.17% | 8.43 | -0.1424 | 0.9% | 58.07% |
| K/6 unsuited | 10.19% | 8.38 | -0.1456 | 0.9% | 58.97% |
| 7/2 suited | 9.53% | 8.93 | -0.1484 | 0.3% | 59.28% |
| 6/5 unsuited | 9.73% | 8.65 | -0.1577 | 0.9% | 60.18% |
| 8/6 unsuited | 9.67% | 8.59 | -0.1693 | 0.9% | 61.09% |
| K/5 unsuited | 9.93% | 8.31 | -0.1749 | 0.9% | 61.99% |
| 5/4 unsuited | 9.49% | 8.64 | -0.1795 | 0.9% | 62.9% |
| J/7 unsuited | 9.66% | 8.4 | -0.1879 | 0.9% | 63.8% |
| K/4 unsuited | 9.58% | 8.37 | -0.1984 | 0.9% | 64.71% |
| Q/7 unsuited | 9.57% | 8.36 | -0.1997 | 0.9% | 65.61% |
| 7/5 unsuited | 9.26% | 8.55 | -0.2086 | 0.9% | 66.52% |
| K/3 unsuited | 9.26% | 8.45 | -0.217 | 0.9% | 67.42% |
| 9/6 unsuited | 9.09% | 8.46 | -0.2308 | 0.9% | 68.33% |
| K/2 unsuited | 8.97% | 8.54 | -0.2343 | 0.9% | 69.23% |
| Q/6 unsuited | 9.25% | 8.26 | -0.236 | 0.9% | 70.14% |
| 6/4 unsuited | 8.75% | 8.63 | -0.2446 | 0.9% | 71.04% |
| Q/5 unsuited | 9% | 8.19 | -0.2631 | 0.9% | 71.95% |
| T/6 unsuited | 8.98% | 8.19 | -0.2645 | 0.9% | 72.85% |
| 5/3 unsuited | 8.52% | 8.62 | -0.2651 | 0.9% | 73.76% |
| 8/5 unsuited | 8.6% | 8.4 | -0.2784 | 0.9% | 74.66% |
| Q/4 unsuited | 8.67% | 8.26 | -0.2844 | 0.9% | 75.57% |
| J/6 unsuited | 8.65% | 8.13 | -0.2973 | 0.9% | 76.47% |
| Q/3 unsuited | 8.35% | 8.35 | -0.3028 | 0.9% | 77.38% |
| 4/3 unsuited | 7.9% | 8.69 | -0.3133 | 0.9% | 78.28% |
| 7/4 unsuited | 8.05% | 8.47 | -0.3177 | 0.9% | 79.19% |
| Q/2 unsuited | 8.06% | 8.45 | -0.3191 | 0.9% | 80.09% |
| J/5 unsuited | 8.41% | 8.04 | -0.3241 | 0.9% | 81% |
| 9/5 unsuited | 7.99% | 8.21 | -0.3435 | 0.9% | 81.9% |
| J/4 unsuited | 8.07% | 8.11 | -0.3453 | 0.9% | 82.81% |
| 6/3 unsuited | 7.56% | 8.57 | -0.352 | 0.9% | 83.71% |
| J/3 unsuited | 7.75% | 8.2 | -0.3638 | 0.9% | 84.62% |
| T/5 unsuited | 8.06% | 7.89 | -0.3641 | 0.9% | 85.52% |
| 5/2 unsuited | 7.34% | 8.56 | -0.3714 | 0.9% | 86.43% |
| J/2 unsuited | 7.48% | 8.31 | -0.3791 | 0.9% | 87.33% |
| T/4 unsuited | 7.71% | 7.95 | -0.3877 | 0.9% | 88.24% |
| 8/4 unsuited | 7.38% | 8.27 | -0.3898 | 0.9% | 89.14% |
| 4/2 unsuited | 6.96% | 8.68 | -0.3963 | 0.9% | 90.05% |
| T/3 unsuited | 7.4% | 8.04 | -0.4054 | 0.9% | 90.95% |
| T/2 unsuited | 7.11% | 8.14 | -0.4211 | 0.9% | 91.86% |
| 7/3 unsuited | 6.85% | 8.36 | -0.4273 | 0.9% | 92.76% |
| 9/4 unsuited | 6.96% | 8.03 | -0.4408 | 0.9% | 93.67% |
| 3/2 unsuited | 6.35% | 8.77 | -0.4427 | 0.9% | 94.57% |
| 6/2 unsuited | 6.38% | 8.46 | -0.4601 | 0.9% | 95.48% |
| 9/3 unsuited | 6.63% | 8.12 | -0.4615 | 0.9% | 96.38% |
| 9/2 unsuited | 6.35% | 8.23 | -0.4772 | 0.9% | 97.29% |
| 8/3 unsuited | 6.36% | 8.09 | -0.4852 | 0.9% | 98.19% |
| 8/2 unsuited | 6.06% | 8.19 | -0.5039 | 0.9% | 99.1% |
| 7/2 unsuited | 5.86% | 8.17 | -0.5211 | 0.9% | 100% |
| Total | 11.33% | 8.82 | 0 | 100% |
Methodology
This table is the result of a random simulation of 20,583,763,200 games and assumes all players stay in until the end of the hand.
The following table shows my power rating for each initial 2-card hand in a 10-player game. The numbers are on a 0 to 40 scale. Basically, you should only play hands that are dark green, blue, or purple. Of course you should be more be more liberal in late position and picky in early position. If forced I would say you should need 10 points in late position and 19 points in early position to call the big blind. If your table is loose, as if often the case online, you can play a bit looser yourself.
Use the top table if you have a pair, the middle table if your cards are suited, and the bottom table if your cards are unsuited. Except for a pair,look up your high card along the left and your low card along the top.