Playing the starting hand in Texas Hold’em

Knowing how to play your starting hand is the first step in playing a good game of Texas Hold’em. Find out what you should know.

As with any game of poker, your starting hand is rather important. Knowing what kind of a starting hand you are holding and understanding how you should play that hand is essential to the game. It isn’t always about winning each hand, but rather knowing when to conserve your chips due to a bad starting hand.

The kinds of hands that are playable in a Texas Hold’em game include premium starting hands, great starting hands, and good starting hands. If you have a bad starting hand, chalk up your losses and wait for the next hand to try your hand at Lady Luck. It’s either bet or fold. There is no in between.

Premium starting hands, the kind that have players inwardly drooling in anticipation of the chance to win, include a number of different hands- all of which are considered the cream of the crop. For those of you who are just starting out, premium starting hands include any of the following: Pocket Aces, Pocket Kings, Pocket Queens, Pocket Jacks, Ace/King suited, and Ace/Queen suited. This type of hand is worth playing hard with.

Great starting hands get the heart pumping and should be played strongly. Great starting hands include: pocket pair ranging and including 6 through 10, high suited connectors, and high connectors. An example of high suited connectors is a Jack of hearts with a Queen of hearts. An example of high connectors is a Queen of clubs and a King of hearts.

Good starting hands might not be the best to have, but they sure beat a bad hand. While you can play with these, there are times when it might not be a good idea. Good starting hands include a pocket pair ranging and including 2 through 5, low suited connectors such as a 6 of hearts and a 7 of hearts, and an Ace with any other suited card. If this is the type of hand that you have been dealt, avoid playing it if you can call a bet but not a raise from a late position or check from any position at all.

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