In Texas Holdem, the two hole cards you’re dealt at the start of each hand play a huge role in determining your strategy and outcome. While skill, position, and post-flop play matter, your starting hands form the base of every decision.

For beginners, learning which hands to play — and which to fold — is essential to becoming a winning player. Not all hands are created equal, and understanding how to judge them is a core skill in poker.

Why Starting Hands Matter

Starting hands define your potential to build strong combinations post-flop. Playing too many weak hands will put you in tough spots. On the flip side, folding too many playable hands can cost you profitable opportunities.

A strong pre-flop strategy helps you:

• Save chips in losing situations
• Win more pots with better hands
• Make fewer difficult decisions post-flop

Premium Hands You Should Always Play

These are the best starting hands in Texas Hold’em. They are strong in any position and should almost always be raised or re-raised pre-flop.

Pocket Aces (A♠ A♦)

The strongest hand in poker. You should almost always raise or 3-bet with aces pre-flop. Don’t slow play them unless you have a strong read.

Pocket Kings (K♠ K♥)

Second-best starting hand. Only one hand (aces) beats it pre-flop. Kings win a majority of the time when played aggressively.

Pocket Queens (Q♠ Q♦)

Still a powerhouse. Be cautious if you face heavy action and an ace or king appears on the flop, but generally, it’s a strong hand to raise with.

Ace-King Suited (A♠ K♠)

Often called “Big Slick,” this hand has great high card value and flush/straight potential. It’s strong, but remember it’s a drawing hand — it improves on the flop.

Strong Hands to Play in Most Situations

These hands are still very good and can win big pots. They perform best when played in late position or against weaker opponents.

Pocket Jacks (J♠ J♣)

A tricky hand — very strong, but vulnerable to overcards. Play aggressively pre-flop, but tread carefully if higher cards hit the board.

Ace-Queen Suited (A♦ Q♦)

A solid drawing and high-card hand. Suited gives you extra value with flush potential.

King-Queen Suited (K♣ Q♣)

Another powerful suited connector. Good for making top pairs, flushes, and straights.

Pocket Tens (10♠ 10♥)

Decent in most situations but can be overpowered by higher pocket pairs and overcards. Position and opponent type matter here.