Betting in Poker
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Poker Hands: Ranking and Starting Hand Selection Guide
Mastering poker hands is essential for anyone serious about improving their poker game. Whether you're focusing on hand rankings to understand which hands win, or evaluating the best starting hands before the flop, understanding these concepts is the key to making better decisions at the table.
In this guide, we’ll explore both poker hand rankings and starting hand selection to give you a comprehensive understanding of how to approach different hands in Texas Hold'em and other popular poker variations.
Why You Need To Know Your Poker Hand Rankings
Thoroughly understanding the value of the different combinations of cards and knowing what combinations beat what is vital if you want to win when playing real money online poker.
There are two types of hand rankings we will cover in this article; final poker hand rankings and starting hand rankings. Five-card poker hands that you can make during the game, such as a straight or a flush, constitute the final poker hand rankings, while starting (or preflop) hand rankings encompass the best hands dealt before the game begins.
Poker Hand Rankings: What Hands Win
A poker hand consists of five cards, and the goal is to create the strongest possible combination. These rankings are standard across most poker games, including Texas Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and 5-Card Draw. Thoroughly understanding poker hand rankings allows you to know exactly where you stand during play.
Poker Hand Kickers
There are certain occasions where two players find themselves holding the same best card combination. In this situation, declaring a winner comes down to the other cards the players are holding that are not contributing to the best hand combination. Players call these extra cards kickers, and the player with the highest kicker wins the hand.
Let’s look at an example:
- Player A: K♠ 10♣
- Player B: K♦ Q♥
- Flop, Turn, River: K♥ 4♠ 4♣ 6♦ J♥
In this case both players have a pair of kings and a pair of fours, but the differentiating factor here is that Player B has a Queen kicker and Player A has a 10 kicker.
This means that Player B’s best five-card poker hand is K♠K♥Q♥J♥6♦, whereas Player A’s best five-card poker hand is K♠K♥J♥T♣6♦.
Therefore, Player B wins the hand.
Best Starting Hands in Poker
While knowing the hand rankings is crucial, understanding which starting hands to play is just as important. Preflop hand selection often dictates your likelihood of success, especially in Texas Hold'em.
Here are the top 10 best starting hands in poker:
The Strongest
1. Pocket Aces (AA) - The strongest possible starting hand. It’s virtually unbeatable before the flop, making it a hand you should always play aggressively.
2. Pocket Kings (KK) - Second only to aces, but vulnerable to an ace on the board.
3. Pocket Queens (QQ) - A strong hand but can be beaten by kings and aces.
4. Ace-King Suited (AKs) - A versatile hand with potential for strong straights and flushes.
Strategy: Play these hands aggressively but be cautious of raises from early positions. In later positions, they can be used to apply pressure.
- Example: Holding AQ in a middle position, you might raise to put pressure on the blinds and thin the field. If an opponent re-raises, you need to consider their likely hand strength before proceeding.
Very Strong
5. Pocket Jacks (JJ) - Known as "fish hooks," jacks are strong but can be tricky to play due to overcards on the board.
6. Pocket Tens (TT) – A solid hand, but overcards can cause trouble.
7. Ace-King Offsuit (AKo) – Strong but less valuable than the suited version due to a lower chance of flushes.
8. Ace-Queen Suited (AQs) – Another strong hand with potential for top pairs and flushes.
Strategy: Play these hands aggressively but be cautious of raises from early positions. In later positions, they can be used to apply pressure.
- Example: Holding AQ in a middle position, you might raise to put pressure on the blinds and thin the field. If an opponent re-raises, you need to consider their likely hand strength before proceeding.
Strong
9. Pocket Nines (99) – A good starting pair, but be cautious of higher community cards.
10. Ace-Jack Suited (AJs) – While not as strong as AQ, it’s still a valuable hand that can form strong postflop combinations.
Strategy: These hands can be tricky. Play them carefully, usually in late positions or if you have a good read on your opponents.
Example: Holding AJ suited in a late position, you might limp in or make a small raise. However, be prepared to fold if you face significant resistance from other players.
Honorable Mention: Other Speculative Hands
Small Pairs (22-66) & Suited Connectors (56♠, 78♦).
Strategy: These hands can hit big on the flop but are riskier. Play them in late positions or when the table dynamics are favorable.
- Example: With 78♠, you might call a small raise from a late position, hoping to hit a straight or flush draw on the flop. If you miss, you can fold without investing too much.
How Position Affects Your Starting Hand Strategy
The value of your starting hand can vary significantly depending on your position at the table. Early positions require stronger hands due to the greater number of opponents yet to act. Conversely, in late positions like the button, you can play a wider range of hands.
For instance, in early positions, you should only play premium hands like AA, KK, and AK. However, when you're in a late position, speculative hands like suited connectors (9♠ 10♠) or lower pairs (22-66) become more valuable because you have more information about your opponents' actions.
Common Mistakes in Starting Hand Selection
Avoiding common mistakes can improve your poker starting hand strategy:
Playing Too Many Hands
Beginners often play too many hands, leading to costly mistakes. Focus on quality over quantity.
- Example: Avoid playing hands like 9♦ 5♠ or J♦ 3♣, which are unlikely to improve and can lead to trouble.
Overvaluing Suited Cards
Suited hands are appealing, but their value is often overestimated. Only play them when the position and table conditions are favorable.
- Example: While 7♠ 2♠ is suited, it is still a very weak hand and should generally be folded.
Ignoring Position
Always consider your position when selecting starting hands. Playing strong hands in early positions and expanding your range in late positions is key.
- Example: In an early position, fold hands like Q♦ J♣ or K♣ 10♠, which are more vulnerable to raises and re-raises.
Advanced Starting Hand Strategies
As you gain experience playing poker for real money, you can adopt more advanced starting hand strategies:
Game Types
Adapt your strategy based on whether you are playing cash games or tournaments. Tournaments often require tighter hand selection due to the increasing blinds and antes.
- Example: In a tournament with high blinds, play tighter and focus on preserving your stack with strong hands.
Opponent Types
Adjust your hand selection based on your opponents. Tight players allow for more aggressive plays, while loose players require more caution.
- Example: If you notice an opponent consistently playing loose, you can exploit this by raising more often with a wider range of hands.
Balancing Range
Incorporate a mix of strong and speculative hands to keep opponents guessing and avoid predictability.
- Example: Occasionally raise with suited connectors like 9♠ 10♠ to add balance to your range and create opportunities for big pots.
Absolute vs. Relative Hand Value
Every poker hand has an absolute value based on the standard ranking, but the relative value of your hand changes depending on the community cards and the likely hands your opponents are holding.
Example of Relative Value:
Player A: A♣ A♦
Community Cards: 10♥ 9♥ 8♠ 6♥ J♣
In this scenario pocket aces have a decent absolute value as it is the highest pair available. However, the relative value of the hand is significantly lower based on the community cards showing. Your opponent could have a flush, straight, or even straight flush, all of which beat pocket aces.
This is why it’s important to consider the relative value of your hand over the absolute value. Sure, pocket aces is the best pair on the board and was the best possible hand preflop, but after this run out, the value of it is significantly lower. During your play, you should account for community cards as they can drastically change the relative value of your hand.
Conclusion: Mastering Poker Hands for Success
Mastering poker hands is the foundation for becoming a winning poker player. Whether you’re learning about hand rankings or perfecting your starting hand selection, these concepts are key to developing a strong, profitable poker strategy. Keep these hand rankings and strategies in mind as you play, and always be aware of how your position, table dynamics, and community cards affect your hand’s value.
FAQs
Suits are the symbol on each card: clubs, diamonds, spades and hearts.
The ranking order from highest to lowest is spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. However, in most poker games, like Texas Hold’em, the suits are all ranked equally.
What happens when the highest hand is tied?
If the highest hands are tied, the player with the highest card will win.
The best hand is a royal flush, however, in 7-card stud, the highest hand is a five of a kind, which can only be possible when one card is wild.
The worst hand one can have in poker is a high card. The worst hand holding the highest lowest high card hand, however, is 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.
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