Different people say different things when it comes to what starting hands are acceptable to play in Texas Holdem. Although it's very important to understand when to make a pre-flop bet, knowing the skill and playing style of your opponents will be equally as critical. Nothing is more frustrating in Texas Holdem than when you start with a pair of Aces and you think the flop has completely missed everyone. You raise and continue to raise as the community cards fall with what looks like a sure victory. Just as you begin thinking what suckers you are playing with, someone turns over an offsuited 4-7 that they made two-pair with on the river. At this point, you want to take your starting hands sheet and throw it through the wall. But, in a short time, you realize that the "any two will do" player begins to lose money in droves as "the river" soon dries up. It seems like memorizing starting cards could be a painful proposition, but keep in mind that there are only 169 possible two-card starting combinations. A suited 9-8 could be considered a playable hand if you are sitting on "the button" with only two bettors to follow. However, if you are sitting to the left of the "big blind," you may want to think twice before charging in with that type of hand.

Here is a list of possible starting hands based on your position at the table. In each case, it assumes you are the first player to enter the pot.

 

Group 1 Hands (ANY Position)

Pairs: A-A to J-J
Suited or Unsuited: A-K or A-Q

 

Group 2 Hands (Middle Position)

Pairs: A-A to 8-8
Suited or Unuited: A-K to A-T, K-Q

 

Group 3 Hands (Late Position)

Pairs: All
Suited or Unsuited: A-All, K-Q to K-T, Q-J, Q-T, J-10
Suited: 10-9, 9-8, 8-7

 

No matter what you use as your requirement for starting hands, try to stick with it when you become desperate for good cards. And, even more important than starting well is knowing when you are beat and getting out before it's too late and too costly.