Top Ten Pocket Holdem Hands
April 25, 2008
A lot of poker players and experts squabble over the official top ten starting hands for No Limit Texas Hold‘em. Each one backs their opinion with their own top ten list that in truth varies little from the last or next list. Maybe the small variations from list to list are the result of knowledge that comes from long years of play. Maybe they are the product of a computer program. Maybe they are just good old fashioned stubborn opinion.
Regardless, the top three starting poker hands are uncontested, and the other seven make consistent appearances on all the lists. It’s only the order in the bottom half that ever changes, and even so the card combinations for the most part remain the same. These are the most commonly cited top ten starting Hold ’em hands:
AA / Pocket Aces … Hands down pocket aces are the best starting hand a player can get. When a competitor tips his cards after a deal and involuntarily cracks a smile, it’s probably because he’s got a pair of these.
KK / Pocket Kings … This is another combination that raises no controversy with its ranking as the second best starting hand.
QQ / Pocket Queens … A rare few radical players may argue this placement, but most players agree that a pair of ladies takes an easy third in the starting hand rankings.
JJ / Pocket Jacks … The real debate begins with the fourth ranking. Conservative players will always place a pair of jacks above the AK suited by merit of its immediate value in the game.
AK Suited / Big Slick … This duo usually appears in the fourth, fifth, or sixth slot on a top ten list, though occasionally it makes third … How to play poker - ace king
10 10 / Pocket tens … Sixth is about as high as this hand gets on the average top ten list, though beginners often favor it over the non-pair combos.
AK Unsuited / Big Slick … The big boys in any color are a regular combo on the top ten list.
AQ Suited … An ace and any face suited have a solid place in the top starting hands.
KQ Suited … As the ace drops out of non-pair face combos, the ranking always gets lower.
AJ Suited … Many players rank this above the KQ.
AQ unsuited … May also appear as an alternate for the KQ suited, depending on the list maker’s preference.
With few other exceptions, these are largely regarded to be the top ten starting hands.
Many new players play it safe by folding with anything less than these eleven combinations.
This is a far safer tactic than some beginners use; oversimplifying their cards and betting on any pair or combination of face cards. Advanced players know better and don’t have to play it so safe. As with any game, you learn as you go and the more hands you play the better you understand the potential of your hand the next time around.
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