Starting Hands Guide [Archive] - Online Poker Forum

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Liam

07-12-2005, 08:28 PM

Hi there everyone,

These tables might seem a little trivial to any seasoned players, but thought it might be of some help to our recent players who are new to the world of Poker.

May The Flop Be With You!

Liam

07-12-2005, 08:29 PM

part two of the table

XaqNautilus

10-08-2005, 05:01 PM

it can be noted that these are only recommendations and everyone will have their own quirks, so predicting others' hands using these table would be difficult as well. ;)

PokerAce55

10-09-2005, 08:42 PM

I think hands when you have a high card suited with a low card can be played pre-flop if there is no significant raise, because you could flop a flush, or a decent flush draw, but i don't think you should chase it too far, especially if there is a significant raise pre-flop.

skinski

10-10-2005, 02:50 PM

drugsarebad

10-10-2005, 04:09 PM

The thing that makes these hands losing hands/dangerous is that you can run into trouble with your kicker. If you have a low card, youll rarely flop top pair, but if you hit your high card for top pair, then you can easily be outkicked. The chance of the flush isn't really high enough to play a hand just because it's suited either. The only hands I would ever maybe play like this are suited Aces with a 2-5, this adds the wheel draw.

Lewfather

10-24-2005, 11:30 PM

This is sort of basic stuff but It's something we all had to learn. I think the biggest thing is experience on the felt, BR management, Table Selection and not being an overall DONK at the table and you will be +EV.

:6s: :9s:

DedMansHand

12-05-2005, 06:43 AM

tking888

03-28-2006, 07:53 PM

except maybe the small blind

SatansDoormat

04-20-2006, 04:09 AM

Every time I play with suited cards I get 2 others on the flop get commited to the pot and never see the flush. Whenever my opponents do they win on the river :0( I know this is a lame post but Im STILL trying to understand why when I raised the pot before the flop with Ace King in one of last nights freerolls, I got called by a Jack 3 of dimonds I floped the Ace high straight but got knocked out on the river by the dreded flush. Usually I dont dwell on bad beats but I would have been chip leader with about 50 to go If I had won instead I was out :0( . Oh well thats poker if it had been the other way around (not that I would have called in the first place) I would have been patting myself on the back and toasting my good fortune with a nice mug of hot chocolate and a hobknob :0)

Durfio

04-22-2006, 04:25 AM

Can you make this a mandatory read... no scratch that... New players must write it on the chalk board from memory 50 times before they can enter A TOURNEY...Wishfull thinking right...LOL

Nothing hurts more than AA button gettin beat out by a 72 offsuit BB calling all-in on the first hand...

What we all have to remember is that as frustrating as it is from time to time, these clowns are profitable for us. If anything I rather see even worse play.

BookGuy

05-01-2006, 07:16 PM

Well, I played my J 3 Diamonds, I was in big blind, you only called, I flopped the flush.

Your mistake was NOT betting the A K, instead I was allowed to see a cheap flop I should never have seen.

NeoBahamut

05-02-2006, 01:17 AM

If u only try to play the big hands u will be outdrawed by the blinds in the end, u don't get them that often. Every hand is playable it depends on what other players do and how big or low stack u got.And then what cards that comes up. Don't mean that u should play every hand (better play few and play them hard). Also change tactics while u play and how u bet.

ChrisXR

05-02-2006, 03:46 AM

Id like to see a starting hand guide for Omaha

natsdad

05-02-2006, 03:52 AM

I thought it was any 4 cards, seems like it in the freeroll lol. :D

cazwil

05-02-2006, 07:40 AM

Id like to see a starting hand guide for Omaha
A A K K

A A J 10

A A Q Q

A A J J

A A 10 10

A A 9 9

Ace Ace X X - (A A 7 7)

8 9 10 J

K K Q Q

K K J J

Hope this helps Chris, these are believed to be the highest starting hands in Omaha Hi

Caz:wave:

thechach

05-02-2006, 08:10 AM

A A K K

A A J 10

A A Q Q

A A J J

A A 10 10

A A 9 9

Ace Ace X X - (A A 7 7)

8 9 10 J

K K Q Q

K K J J

Hope this helps Chris, these are believed to be the highest starting hands in Omaha Hi

Caz:wave:

Those are great starting hands. It's also good have two and two same suit cards. Can be useful.... even tho flushes don't hold up that often in omaha.

:D

frisis

05-03-2006, 10:33 AM

I recall reading that the average winning hand in Omaha was trip 9's. Given that it makes much more sense to play straights and flushes in Omaha than it does in holdem. Concentrate on the nut straight or flush though. In a 10 player Omaha table 40 cards go out before the flop. If you don't have the ace high flush someone else may well have it and with an ace it is likely they are still in the hand on sixth street.

You can see a flush or straight option in the up cards and if no pair shows there is no full house. One of the best hands in Omaha is the full house where your trips are not paired and higher than the pair on the table.

Some of the hands that can win big pots in holdem, like 56 or 78 suited or the double bellybuster straight draw don't make less sense in Omaha.

ken

ference

06-15-2006, 11:27 AM

Every time I play with suited cards I get 2 others on the flop get commited to the pot and never see the flush. Whenever my opponents do they win on the river

This is funny cause I feel the same thing happening to me. Seems other people's chases are more fruitful than mine. Even when I have a Flush and Straight on the flop I never hit.16 outs and not one hits.

zzzbob

06-16-2006, 09:23 AM

I love opponents in nl who play two low cards for flushes and st8ts. They will rarely flop one and trying to catch one at the turn or river could mean calling a large bet or raise. I have seen many people bet all in on a flush draw. People will catch once in a while. To combat this after the flop make them all pay dearly to be able to chase the flush. If you think you have the best hand and you think you opponent is on a draw bet as much as you can every time. You will lose a few but will win many more than you lose and the chip count will be well in your favor. Holdem is a tough game. Sometimes you do everything right and lose and sometimes you do everything wrong and win. What really irritates me is that you must be ready at any time to risk everything you have at the table and then you run into the nimrod who is on a lucky streak.

CAFlop

07-20-2006, 07:53 AM

Nice to know the starting hands, but I would like to know the percentages of winning with each. I know AA doesnt always win, but its higher than 88 suited.

Hacksaw2000

07-20-2006, 12:40 PM

Nice to know the starting hands, but I would like to know the percentages of winning with each. I know AA doesnt always win, but its higher than 88 suited.

ive never had 88 suited

:)

muzza1

07-20-2006, 12:45 PM

ive never had 88 suited

:)

ROFLMAO

Assistance

08-06-2006, 03:33 AM

Hole Cards % of Hands won in a ten player game
Ace Ace 31%
King King 26.02%
Queen Queen 22.03%
Ace King (suited) 20.19%
Jack Jack 19.09%
Ace Queen (suited) 18.66%
King Queen (suited) 18.08%
Ace Jack (suited) 17.47%
King Jack (suited) 17.05%
Ten Ten 16.83%
Ace King (Big Slick) 16.67%
Ace Ten (suited) 16.63%
Queen Jack (suited) 16.58%
King Ten (suited) 16.14%
Queen Ten (suited) 15.84%
Jack Ten (suited) 15.78%
99 15.29%
Ace Queen 14.87%
Ace 9(suited) 14.6%
King Queen 14.43%
88 14.16%
King 9(suited) 14.15%
Ten 9(suited) 14.07%
Ace 8(suited) 13.89%
Queen 9(suited) 13.82%
Jack 9(suited) 13.80%
Ace Jack 13.45%
Ace 5(suited) 13.43%
77 13.36%
Ace 7(suited) 13.35%
King Jack 13.18%
Ace 4(suited) 13.17%
Ace 3(suited) 13.07%
Ace 6(suited) 12.97%
Queen Jack 12.89%
66 12.77%
King 8(suited) 12.77%
Ten 8(suited) 12.73%
Ace 2(suited) 12.69%
98(suited) 12.63%
Jack 8(suited) 12.47%
Ace Ten 12.43%
Queen 8(suited) 12.42%
King 7(suited) 12.23%
King Ten 12.23%
55 12.15%
Jack Ten 12.13%
87(suited) 12.02%
Queen Ten 11.99%
44 11.94%
33 11.93%
22 11.86%
King 6(suited) 11.84%
97(suited) 11.74%
King 5(suited) 11.57%
76(suited) 11.47%
Ten 7(suited) 11.47%
King 4(suited) 11.4%
King 2(suited) 11.27%
King 3(suited) 11.26%
Queen 7(suited) 11.20%
86(suited) 11.16%
65(suited) 11.13%
Jack 7(suited) 11.12%
54(suited) 10.90%
Queen 6(suited) 10.85%
75(suited) 10.69%
96(suited) 10.65%
Queen 5(suited) 10.55%
64(suited) 10.44%
Queen 4(suited) 10.43%
Queen 3(suited) 10.42%
Ten 9 10.38%
Ten 6(suited) 10.31%
Queen 2(suited) 10.28%
Ace 9 10.20%
53(suited) 10.18%
85(suited) 10.12%
Jack 6(suited) 10.10%
Jack 9 9.99%
King 9 9.93%
Jack 5(suited) 9.86%
Queen 9 9.81%
43(suited) 9.81%
74(suited) 9.74%
Jack 4(suited) 9.73%
Jack 3(suited) 9.57%
95(suited) 9.56%
Jack 2(suited) 9.50%
63(suited) 9.49%
Ace 8 9.42%
52(suited) 9.25%
Ten 5(suited) 9.23%
84(suited) 9.14%
Ten 4(suited) 9.11%
Ten 3(suited) 9.06%
42(suited) 9.02%
Ten 2(suited) 8.97%
98 8.97%
Ten 8 8.93%
Ace 5 8.92%
Ace 7 8.83%
73(suited) 8.75%
Ace 4 8.72%
32(suited) 8.7%
94(suited) 8.7%
93(suited) 8.53%
Jack 8 8.50%
Ace 3 8.50%
62(suited) 8.48%
92(suited) 8.46%
King 8 8.45%
Ace 6 8.39%
87 8.36%
Queen 8 8.28%
83(suited) 8.23%
Ace 2 8.18%
82(suited) 8.11%
97 7.96%
72(suited) 7.91%
76 7.88%
King 7 7.86%
65 7.57%
Ten 7 7.53%
King 6 7.46%
86 7.4%
54 7.36%
King 5 7.13%
Jack 7 7.10%
75 7.01%
Queen 7 6.97%
King 4 6.95%
King 3 6.87%
96 6.77%
King 2 6.76%
64 6.75%
Queen 6 6.58%
53 6.57%
85 6.3%
Ten 6 6.28%
Queen 5 6.26%
43 6.17%
Queen 4 6.13%
Queen 3 6.05%
74 5.96%
Queen 2 5.95%
Jack 6 5.94%
63 5.73%
Jack 5 5.63%
95 5.6%
52 5.56%
Jack 4 5.5%
42 5.4%
Jack 2 5.33%
84 5.25%
Ten 5 5.22%
Ten 4 5.04%
32 5.02%
Ten 3 4.95%
73 4.94%
Ten 2 4.88%
62 4.72%
94 4.65%
93 4.51%
92 4.47%
83 4.33%
82 4.2%
72 4.04%

ApesAreCool

08-16-2006, 10:16 PM

wow those percentages are very helpful, im assuming there all for a 10 person pot ?

ChrisXR

08-16-2006, 10:43 PM

Keep in mind those percentages are for the actual hands beating other hands.

As you all know, in poker, you dont need a big hand to win a pot

Boertjie

09-10-2006, 10:30 AM

What do you think of this advice....

Starting Hand Guide

(regular full table, 8 to 10 players)
Glossary of Abbreviations:
RFI Raise when First In. If no one has called or raised in front of you, you should raise. You do this in order to take the initiative in the hand and/or because of the possibility that you might "steal" the blinds.
R You should Raise no matter what has happened in front of you.
R1 You should Raise when there is no more than One player in the pot or you are the first one in.
C No matter how many players are in the pot you should Call.
C1 Call only if there is at least One other caller in front of you. If there were no callers before you, you should fold.
C2 You should Call if there are at least Two callers already in the pot.
C3 You should Call if there are at least Three callers already in the pot.
RR You should Re-raise.
F You should Fold.
LL Refers to a Lone Late position raiser.

Limit Texas Hold'em Starting Hand Guide

Group A Hands Unraised Pot Raised Pot

AA-QQ R RR
AKs R RR

Group B Hands

JJ R RR1, C
TT R C, RR LL
AK R RR1, C
AQs R C, RR LL

Group C Hands

99 RFI (late position), C C2
AQ RFI (late position), C C2
AJs RFI (late position), C C2
KQs RFI (late position), C C2
KQ RFI (late position), C F

Group D Hands

88 RFI (late position), C3 C4
77 RFI (late position), C3 C4
66-22 C3 C4
Axs C3 C4
KJs C3 C4
KTs C3 F
QJs RFI (late position), C2 C4
QTs C3 F
JTs C3 C4
T9s C3 C4
98s C3 C4
87s C4 C4
76s C4 C4

punainen16

11-11-2006, 07:56 AM

Probably fine advice for some, but way too tight for me :)

:Kc::Qh::Kd::Kh:

What do you think of this advice....

Starting Hand Guide

(regular full table, 8 to 10 players)
Glossary of Abbreviations:
RFI Raise when First In. If no one has called or raised in front of you, you should raise. You do this in order to take the initiative in the hand and/or because of the possibility that you might "steal" the blinds.
R You should Raise no matter what has happened in front of you.
R1 You should Raise when there is no more than One player in the pot or you are the first one in.
C No matter how many players are in the pot you should Call.
C1 Call only if there is at least One other caller in front of you. If there were no callers before you, you should fold.
C2 You should Call if there are at least Two callers already in the pot.
C3 You should Call if there are at least Three callers already in the pot.
RR You should Re-raise.
F You should Fold.
LL Refers to a Lone Late position raiser.

Limit Texas Hold'em Starting Hand Guide

Group A Hands Unraised Pot Raised Pot

AA-QQ R RR
AKs R RR

Group B Hands

JJ R RR1, C
TT R C, RR LL
AK R RR1, C
AQs R C, RR LL

Group C Hands

99 RFI (late position), C C2
AQ RFI (late position), C C2
AJs RFI (late position), C C2
KQs RFI (late position), C C2
KQ RFI (late position), C F

Group D Hands

88 RFI (late position), C3 C4
77 RFI (late position), C3 C4
66-22 C3 C4
Axs C3 C4
KJs C3 C4
KTs C3 F
QJs RFI (late position), C2 C4
QTs C3 F
JTs C3 C4
T9s C3 C4
98s C3 C4
87s C4 C4
76s C4 C4

IAmSolitary

11-11-2006, 10:45 AM

wow, i need to stop playing a few starting hands that i tend to play.

michael1952

11-11-2006, 02:45 PM

a hobnob u ***** lmao

Touchygirl

12-08-2006, 10:46 AM

guturnut

12-14-2006, 09:57 AM

who dares wins SAS.

NOKYJOKER

12-16-2006, 12:40 PM

hi! i just remark this thread, which first post is interesting, and i want to give my little contribution to this!

What the donks don't know about texas holdem!
>Probabilities to win the hand (http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/NOKYJOKER/Probatowinthehand1.jpg) Part1<
>Probabilities to win the hand (http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/NOKYJOKER/Probatowinthehand2.jpg) Part2<
>Probabilities to win the hand (http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/NOKYJOKER/Probatowinthehand3.jpg) Part3<
>Probabilities to win the hand (http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/NOKYJOKER/Probatowinthehand4.jpg) Part4<

ps : the resolution is the best i could do, keep zooming it's still readable!

hereitswarmer

12-26-2006, 05:23 PM

I know this may be a dumb question but why do you emphasis playing weaker hands later in the game?

bluelips

12-26-2006, 11:51 PM

dont follow a starting hands guide

just go all in whenn you feel you are the overdog

Dieusucker

12-27-2006, 02:50 AM

Yeah poker must be played calmly and if u need to think a lot dont hesitate lol

ducethree

12-28-2006, 08:38 AM

nice post.

dan911

01-08-2007, 07:39 AM

nice

NOKYJOKER

01-08-2007, 05:28 PM

I know this may be a dumb question but why do you emphasis playing weaker hands later in the game?

:wave: beacuse you can't wait for big cards you have to gamble!! If no, the blinds will get you!

dont follow a starting hands guide
just go all in whenn you feel you are the overdog
:wave: Don't be a donkey even when you have the best hand, you'll win too little! (ecxepte if it's late and if you're drunk) :beaten: :P

:diamonds: The starting hands guide is the deep foundation of poker, which is for most player a psychological game, but in the deep inside of the game it's the math which completly governs it!

:diamonds: If you think that math are not essential in poker it's because you can hear nothing about Maths!

:diamonds: I take the starting hands guide as an helper not as a "what must we do to win" guide ( if yu do that you'll lose or in the best case win little in cash game but you'll lose in tournament for sure)!
And because poker is about making the rite decision at the rite moment i use the starting hand guides to know approximatively in what good or bad shape i'm with a hand, this guide is not absolut!... but it can help to know approximatively the potential of a hand in a each number of player game!!!

:diamonds: if you have alook at the guide i posted, there's 3 Keys:

big pairs ar always the best hands from 2 to 10 players
the big suited conector are better and better when you increase the NB of player
middle pair are worst and worst when you increase the NB of player:wave:
NOK

rickyp

03-24-2007, 05:35 AM

[quote=Liam;4054]Hi there everyone,

These tables might seem a little trivial to any seasoned players, but thought it might be of some help to our recent players who are new to the world of Poker.

what about 8 - 7 suited, - it's not in the list

guturnut

03-31-2007, 07:11 PM

wow da fish r gonna learn how to swim after all these posts in regards to the hand 78 - the clue is in what hands they impeded on str.....flushhes.
there is a cult for the 78 who religiously paly with it......in da case of an allin move against AA or A rag or other ranking hds it is highly unlikely to be used in some elese str and of course being suited flush posibilites ....makes it for me a nice raising hd but not so much of a calling one ;0)

guturnut

03-31-2007, 07:14 PM

i hasten to add that staically kq is much more profitable :rolleyes:

WiiWouldLike2Play

05-27-2007, 12:24 AM

Call me a donk if you wish, but 2-7. I play it because it's the worst. No one suspects it. I won't call a raise with it but I'm telling you if you can limp (while the blinds are low, of course...I'm not THAT dumb) in with it and hit, you're making chips, almost guaranteed. Flop comes 2-7-K, 2-7-A, damn even 2-7-7, 2-7-7. Not saying it happens very often but if you were to push all-in in a situation like this, even the dumbest players in the world won't put you on it.

I've had flops like that so often where I bet, get raised, re-raise or push and have had people take the time to type something to the effect of "there's no way you called with a 2-7" then hit that call button.

The best part is if you don't hit, it's soooooo easy to throw away. For the 1000s of chips I've raked in on this little number, it's been worth the 20 or so chips I usually throw away on the hands, where I get nothing.

Anyway, I know this sounds dumb but I guess everyone's got a ****po hand they just have to play for some unknown reason.

Edit...yay! I finally got rid of those crabs and got a sailboat lol.

Gremelins

05-28-2007, 02:59 AM

Well personally I *almost never* play cards under 10 even of they are pairs

zzzbob

05-28-2007, 11:12 AM

You are definitely a donkey for playing 2-7. You must be a newbie, play free rolls or very small by in games. NO adult in their right mind would put a penny in a pot with a 7-2. You remind me of the kid who pulls the wings off flies.

bluelips

05-28-2007, 01:28 PM

PatJaMa

06-13-2007, 09:13 AM

See the way I play is try to be as unpredictable as you can so that when you have a great hand, you can get the most money out of it.

chasss

06-13-2007, 04:18 PM

I like to play 72 I win 9 times out of 10 with it

Careybear

06-25-2007, 03:15 PM

Thanks for posting these it's great for new players and even ones like me who have been playing for 3 years to remind me when i start getting bored in a tourney to tell myself..."don't play that hand"!! lol

smarkomo

07-14-2007, 09:57 AM

The charts are ok for beginners, but I like to trust my gut.

shomy21

07-14-2007, 03:31 PM

Every cards is ok for limp even 72 if BB not to much big on tourney, but definitly not for call.

mzmaggie

12-22-2007, 07:05 AM

hey everyone that posted....thank you....this was very interesting for me..i learned alot

sakana

12-22-2007, 07:28 PM

FlayMingKok

12-22-2007, 09:04 PM

starting hands are over rated!

boofman80

05-02-2008, 10:15 PM

you know whats not over-rated.....................................BOOBS!!! !!11!!!!!

enzolito

10-03-2008, 06:56 AM

most of the donks here play and call allins with
Any Ace rag
Any suited cards
and play them in any position
Long may they continue....

pupweb

11-20-2008, 01:53 AM

Visit the link below to see the group rating and learn about David Sklansky's system.

Note: link deleted by moderator because it contains advertising for other poker sites. I have copied the information from the site below:

Group Hands
Group 1 AA, KK, QQ, JJ, Aks
Group 2 TT, Aqs, Ajs, KQs, AK
Group 3 99, JTs, QJs, KJs, ATs, AQ
Group 4 T9s, KQ, 88, QTs, 98s, J9s, AJ, KTs
Group 5 77, 87s, Q9s, T8s, KJ, QJ, JT, 76s, 97s, Axs, 65s
Group 6 66, AT, 55, 86s, KT, QT, 54s, K9s, J8s, 75s
Group 7 44, J9, 64s, T9, 53s, 33, 98, 43s, 22, Kxs, T7s, Q8s
Group 8 87, A9, Q9, 76, 42s, 32s, 96s, 85s, J8, J7s, 65, 54, 74s, K9, T8

Here is a short recommendation on how to play each group see note:

In early position, play group 1 - 3.
In mid position, play group 1 - 5.
In late position, play group 1 - 7.
On tilt go all in for groups 1-5

NOTE: Position play should be different for each game type, blind schedule, and poker site.

for example: You can expect players to go all in early for games where the positions payed is a lot less than the #players.

Turbos and super turbos require a looser game in the beginning b/c the blinds will beat you.

jumboshreddies

11-20-2008, 03:08 PM

Heres a list of top 20 starting hands in holdem sent to me by another gaming site. I agree with all except for how they have the Ace 9 suited listed.

1. AA
2. KK
3. QQ
4. JJ
5. AKs
6. TT
7. AQs
8. AJs
9. AK
10. KQs
11. ATs
12. KJs
13. AQ
14. 99
15. QJs
16. KTs
17. 88
18. QTs
19. A9s
20. AJ

A 9 suited is a very weak hand, chances are if you hit the A and someone is playing with you, you are out kicked. Also no straight possibilities like QT, KT, KJ