Starting Hands in Texas Hold'em: What to Play
Author: Roman Shaposhnikov
Date: 12.01.2026
Every Hold'em hand starts the same way — you are dealt two cards. Which cards you choose to play shapes everything that follows. Preflop decisions often determine your stack long before the river.
Let's break down which starting hands are strong, which are marginal, and which you should fold immediately.
What are starting-hand charts and why do you need them?
A starting-hand chart is a table showing which cards to enter a pot with from different positions. It does not guarantee profit in every single hand, but it provides a statistical edge over the long run.
Beginners often make two mistakes:
- Playing too many hands (loose): constantly ending up in tough spots with trash and losing money.
- Waiting only for premiums (tight): bleeding blinds and becoming too readable for opponents.
A chart is not dogma but a guide. It helps you see which ranges are mathematically profitable to raise, call, or fold depending on position.
Best starting hands (premium range)
Premium hands win the largest share of preflop pots. In most situations you should raise with them.
- Absolute monsters: AA, KK, QQ, JJ
- Top suited hands: AKs (ace-king suited)
- Strong hands: AQs, TT, AKo
Extended range: hands for active play
After premiums come strong but non-monster hands that are good for raising in most spots, especially from late position:
- Middle pairs: 99, 88, 77
- Strong aces and kings: AQo, AJs, ATs, KQs, KJs
- Suited connectors: T9s, 98s, 87s
These hands often make strong combinations: top pair with a good kicker, flush draws, or straight draws.
Acceptable hands: play with caution
These hands are profitable only under certain conditions (late position, cheap multiway entry, or weak opponents):
- Pocket pairs below 77 (66, 55…)
- Weak suited aces like A5s, A4s
- Wide connectors such as J9s, T8s
If you miss the flop, it is better to fold and avoid costly mistakes on later streets.
Hands you should almost always fold
Over the long run these hands will drain your stack, even if you occasionally win a big pot. Fold them in 99% of cases:
- Offsuit trash with no connectivity: T4o, J6o, 92o.
- Weak kickers: K2o, Q5o, A8o.
- Most "pretty but useless" hands like J9o or K8o.
What affects your opening range?
Your opening range is not fixed — it depends on several key factors:
| Factor | Effect |
| Position | Closer to the Button (Dealer) means a wider opening range because you have positional advantage postflop (except SB and BB). |
| Stack size | Smaller stacks simplify your range (often push/fold). |
| Opponent type | Against Nits you can steal blinds wider; against Maniacs sit tight and wait for strong hands. |
| Action before you | If there was already a raise, everything up to "hands for active play" should be folded. |
Summary
Starting hands are the foundation of your strategy.
- Simply by not playing trash, you are already stronger than most recreational players.
- Even a weaker player who selects hands well wins more than someone who "just likes to play".
Stay disciplined preflop — it gives you a major edge over the long run.
♠️ Test your ranges in practice!
Join the NUTS club on PPPoker, play online, and sharpen your preflop strategy in real hands against different opponent types.