Starting poker hands for Texas Hold’em should be learned in order of rank from the very best on down to -   well,  not the worst;  there are too many -  but down to lesser hands.  Although some card experts say the Holdem game really takes place after the flop,  most of us don’t have so much money we can stay in with bad hands.  Memorizing,  as a matter of fact,  the top twenty 2-card hands is useful for preflop strategy.  There are 91 possible combinations for a 2-card hand,  but only about 30% of these poker hands should even be played.

1.  A-A

2.  K-K

3.  Q-Q

4.  J-J

5.  A-K,  suited

6.  10-10

7.  A-Q,  suited

8.  A-J,  suited

9.  A-K  offsuit

10.  K-Q,  suited

11.  A-10,  suited

12.  K-J,  suited

13.  A-Q  offsuit

14.  9-9

15.  Q-J,  suited

16.  K-10,  suited

17.  10-9,  suited

18.  K-Q  offsuit

19.  8-8

20.  Q-10,  suited

Notice how much stronger suited cards are. In poker hands only the very highest cards unsuited are still good.

Now,  your position at the table is crucially important,  too...  If you are in early position in the hand,  you need strong cards to stay in,  and we do not recommend deviating from the practice of playing only top starter poker hands.  However,  if you sit in late position,  and the later the better, you can "work"  the other players with a lesser hand,  say,  a pair lower than 9s.  In this case a small pair,  if you’re a happy,  aggressive gambler,  definitely calls for you to raise rather than call;  if you raise now you can force others out of the hand and possibly steal the blinds altogether.