Poker Basics:
Learn To Play Texas
Hold'em Poker Hand Rankings
Texas Hold'em Rules
Starting Hands for Learning Texas Hold'em

Most new players to the game of Texas Hold'em lose money because they want to play every hand. Any two cards can win, but the likelihood of just any old two cards winning is much less than if you are more discriminating in your hand selection.

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to play every hand. One of the good things about Texas Hold’em is that you are only obligated to put money in the pot when you happen to be the big blind or the small blind.

The hands you that should play are different depending on whether you are playing in a “tight game” or a “loose game”. A tight game is a game in which most of the players are only playing good starting hands--- only 3-5 players will see the flop on average in a tight game. A loose game is one which most of the players will be seeing the flop with most any hand, hoping to get lucky. On average, 6 to 8 players will see the flop in a “loose” game.

Another factor to consider when choosing the hands you play is your position (relative to the button). If you are in early position--- one of the first three seats to the left of the big blind--- you shouldn’t play as many hands as if you were in middle position-- the next three seats to the left of early position-- or late position-- the last two seats. Position is extremely important, since not only do you have a better idea of how many people will be in the pot and if there will be pre-flop raises that you will have to call, but on all subsequent betting rounds, you have more information to base your decisions upon than those that must act before you.

Below are some basic starting hand guidelines. Abbreviations such as AT means Ace-Ten; JTs means Jack-Ten suited; AA-77 means all pocket pairs between Ace-Ace and 7-7.

Tight Games:

Early Position, no raise in front of you: play AA-77, AK-AJ, KQ, and any two suited cards above ten. Raise with AA-TT, AKs-AJs, AK and AQ.

Early Position with a pre-flop raiser in front of you: AA-TT, AKs-AJs, KQs and AK.
Reraise with AA-TT, AKs, and AK.

Middle Position, no raise in front of you: play any pocket pair, AKs-A2s, KQs-K9s, QJs-Q9s, JTs, J9s, T9s, 98s, AK-AT, and KQ-KJ. Raise with AA-99, AKs-ATs, KQs, KJs, AK-AJ, and KQ.

Middle Position, with a pre-flop raiser in front of you: Play only the same hands that you would play in early position with a raise in front of you.

Late Position, no raise in front of you: Play all the hands that you would in Middle Position with no raise, plus 87s-54s and any two cards that are ten or higher. Raise with the same hands that you would raise with in Middle Position.

Late Position, with a raise in front of you: Play only the same hands that you would play in early and middle position with a pre-flop raiser, BUT, if there are three players in the pot already, also call with any pocket pair and QJs, JTs, ad T9s.

Small Blind, no raise: Play all hands that you would play in Late Position, plus any two suited cards. Raise with AA-99, AKs-ATs, KQs, KJs, and AK-AQ.

Small Blind, with a raise: Same as if you were in Early Position against a raise, except add all pocket pairs.

Big Blind, no raise: Raise all hands that you would raise from the small blind.

Big Blind, with a raise: Play all hands that you would play from Late Position with no raise, except don’t play AT, KJ, KT, QJ, QT, and JT.

Loose Games:

Early Position, no raise in front of you: play any pocket pair, AKs-A2s, KQs-K9s, QJs-Q9s, JTs, J9s, T9s, 98s, AK-AT, and KQ-KJ. Raise with AA-99, AKs-ATs, KQs, KJs, AK-AJ, and KQ.

Early Position with a pre-flop raiser in front of you: any pocket pair, AKs-ATs, KQs-KTs, QJs, JTs, AK, and AQ. Reraise with AA-99, AKs, AQs, AK, and AQ.

Middle Position, no raise in front of you: Play exactly as you would in early position.

Middle Position, with a pre-flop raiser in front of you: Play only the same hands that you would play in early position with a raise in front of you.

Late Position, no raise in front of you: Play all the hands that you would in Middle Position with no raise, plus K8s-K2s, Q8s, J8s, J7s, 87s-43s, T8s-53s, and any two offsuit cards that are ten or higher. Raise with AA-88, any two suited cards ten or higher, A9s-A8s, K9s, AK-AJ, and KQ.

Late Position, with a raise in front of you: Play any pocket pair, any two suited cards ten or higher, any suited ace, and T9s-76s. Also AK and AQ.

Small Blind, no raise: Play all hands that you would play in Late Position, plus any two suited cards. Raise with AA-99, AKs-ATs, KQs, KJs, and AK-AQ.

Small Blind, with a raise: Same as if you were in Early Position against a raise.

Big Blind, no raise: Raise all hands that you would raise from the small blind.

Big Blind, with a raise: Play all hands that you would play from Late Position with no raise, except don’t play AT, KJ, KT, QJ, QT, and JT.

Texas Poker Hold'em Rules            Back to Poker Basics