Home   ::   Poker Room Reviews   ::   Strategies   ::   Rules   ::   Game Play   ::   Contact Us

Empire Poker



:: Poker Rules: Texas Hold'em
:: Poker Rules: Omaha
:: Poker Rules: Limit Games



:: Rank of Poker Hands
:: Glossary of Poker Terms
:: Etiquette
:: Tournaments
:: Poker Odds
:: Collusion in Poker



:: Poker @ Home/Web
:: Poker Jive
:: Mindset
:: Game Choice
:: Bankroll
:: Advice to New Players
:: Basic Poker Playing Tips
:: Secrets of Great Poker
:: Starting Hand Strengths
:: Advanced Hold'em Strategies
:: Bluffing
:: The Art of Deception
:: Dumping 2nd Best Hand
:: Dynamic Hand Value
:: Going on Tilt
:: No-Limit Game
:: No-Limit Texas Hold'em
:: Shorthand Game
:: Shorthand Limit Hold'em
:: Longhand Limit Hold'em
:: Self-Control
:: Playing Multiple Games



:: Poker Room Reviews
:: Legality
:: Payment Methods
:: Getting Started



:: Lessons 1-5
:: Lessons 6-10
:: Lessons 11-15
:: Lessons 16-21



:: Features
:: World Poker Tour
:: WSOP
:: Accessories
:: Humor



:: Changing Pace
:: Mind Games
:: Tells



:: History of Poker
:: Famous Poker Players
:: Poker Books
:: Links
:: Disclaimer
:: Privacy & Security







Understanding the Strength of
Starting Texas Hold'em Hands



The starting hands (the two cards dealt face down in a Texas Hold'em game) are listed in groups according to their relevant strength. The key to understanding this listing is:

Ace - A
King - K
Queen - Q
Jack - J

Note: In Poker shorthand, AKs means Ace and King of the same suit.

The Strongest Starting Hands:
Pair of high cards - AA, KK, QQ, JJ, 1010
Ace and high card suited - AK, AQ, AJ, A10
Faces suited - KQ, KJ, QJ
Ace King - AK

Medium Strength Starting Hands:
Face ten suited - K10, Q10, J10
Medium pairs - 99, 88, 77
Two high cards - AQ, AJ, A10, KQ down to J10
Ace and medium suited - A9, A8, A7
Medium suited connectors - 109, 98, 87

Other Conditional Starting Hands:
Low pairs - 66, 55, 44, 33, 22
Ace and low suited - A6, A5, A4, A3, A2
Low suited connectors - 76, 65, 54

In other words, if you are dealt the King and Queen of Clubs, this is a much stronger hand than if you would have received a pair of nines.