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We will make a list here of all possible starting hands in Texas Hold ‘Em and how to play them. We will present three different styles of play and each will be mentioned in turn. Play these starting hands in a counter-intuitive manner and look at how the cards can lie and when you should chase a hand and when you should fold.

STRONG HANDS

Pocket Pairs:

These are the most fantastic hand to receive. You will want to raise or re-raise when you get a hand like this. You want to try and hit a set as well.

High Pairs:

These are the most wonderful hand to receive. You will want to raise or even re-raise when you get a hand like this. You really want to hit those set cards and should always pay attention to the other players raises.

Medium Pairs:

Medium Pairs are the next hand up. You will want to raise or even re-raise when you get a hand like this. Again, you really want to hit that set. Also, don’t forget what Ace is suited as well.

Low Pairs:

Once again, you want to raise or re-raise with this set. You really do not want to be playing this hand around. If you are, you will lose the majority of the time. Probably the only time you will want to play this hand is if someone else is raising and you have a very good hand.

How to Play:

So now you have a good understanding of what the odds of receiving each hand are and what to do in each situation, here is how to play.

  1. Fold all but strong hands, call raises and total pots only slightly above pocket pairs (but not so high that you are risking a raise and potential ruin.
  2. In any position, you should limp only with strong hands and very strong draws. If you have a weak hand, you should fold pre-flop.
  3. When you are in the late position, you can play any hand if no one has raised. You can decide to raise or just smooth call, calling raises or no raises at all.
  4. When you are in the early position, you can play more hands if no one has raised. You can decide to raise or just call.
  5. In all other positions, you should only call a raise with a very strong hand.
  6. If no one has raised, you should fold pre-flop.
  7. If there is a raise and a player in the big blind raises, you should either raise or fold.

Some thoughts on starting hand selection:

  1. You want to play a range of numbers, not particular hands.
  2. You don’t want to play heavy pocket pairs, Ace and King Suited or Ace and Queen Suited.
  3. You don’t want to play Ace King or Ace Queen and Ace Queen suited.
  4. You don’t play ALL pocket pairs.
  5. Suited Aces are very strong and should be played in any position.
  6. High cards with a lot of multipliers are strong cards.
  7. Medium cards with a lot of multipliers are strong cards.
  8. Avoid playing many hands.
  9. A good number of suited cards is usually a sign of strength.