The three questions before every preflop decision
Before you look at the specific cards, ask: where am I sitting, what has happened before me, and how deep are the stacks? A hand like is a profitable open from the button and a quiet fold from under the gun. Good preflop play is a function of position first and card strength second.
Starting hand tiers
| Tier | Hands | How to play them |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | AA, KK, QQ, AKs, AKo | Raise from any seat. Re-raise (3-bet) for value almost always. |
| Strong | JJ, TT, AQs, AJs, KQs, AQo | Open from any seat at full ring; often 3-bet in late position. |
| Playable | 99–77, ATs, KJs, QJs, JTs, KQo | Open from middle and late position; call raises in position. |
| Speculative | 66–22, suited aces A9s–A2s, suited connectors T9s–54s | Open late, call with deep stacks for implied odds. Fold to big raises when shallow. |
| Steal-only | Kxs, Qxs, J9s, offsuit broadways like KTo, QTo | Open from the cutoff and button when the blinds are tight. |
| Trouble | Weak offsuit aces (A9o–A2o), KJo from early seats, unsuited gappers | Fold from early position. They make second-best hands. |
Opening ranges by position (6-max, 100 big blinds)
These are approximate percentages of all hands that strong players open when the action folds to them. Treat them as a starting point, not a law.
| Seat | Approx. range | Typical worst hands |
|---|---|---|
| Lojack / UTG | 15–18% | 55, A9s, KTs, QTs, JTs, AJo, KQo |
| Hijack | 19–22% | 44, A5s, K9s, T9s, ATo, KJo |
| Cutoff | 26–30% | 22, A2s, K6s, 98s, 87s, A9o, QJo |
| Button | 40–50% | K2s, Q5s, 64s, A2o, K9o, J9o, T8o |
| Small blind | 35–45% (raise or fold) | Similar to the button, played aggressively |
Sizing your raise
Open to about 2.2 to 3 big blinds online, and 3 to 4 big blinds in live games, adding one big blind for each player who limped in before you. When you 3-bet, make it about three times the open in position and around four times out of position.
Hands that look good but leak money
- and from early seats. When they make top pair, they are often dominated by AK, AQ or KQ.
- -style offsuit aces. They win small pots and lose big ones.
- Small pairs facing a large raise with short stacks. Set mining needs roughly 15 to 20 times the call in effective stack to pay off.
Rule of thumb: if you are not sure whether to play a hand from early position, fold. If you are not sure from the button, raise.
Combinatorics: the quiet edge
Each pocket pair has 6 combinations, each suited hand 4, and each offsuit hand 12. That means there are 16 ways to be dealt ace-king but only 6 ways to be dealt aces. When you hold , your opponent is half as likely to hold aces or kings, because you are holding one of each. This "blocker" effect is why AK makes such a strong 3-bet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best starting hand in Texas Hold'em?
Pocket aces. Against a single random hand, aces win about 85% of the time. Against pocket kings, they win roughly 82%.
How many starting hands are there in Hold'em?
There are 1,326 two-card combinations, which reduce to 169 strategically distinct hands: 13 pairs, 78 suited hands and 78 offsuit hands.
Is ace-king better than pocket queens?
Preflop, pocket queens are a slight favourite in an all-in, about 54% to 46% against ace-king suited. Ace-king plays better when stacks are deep because it makes top pair with the best kicker and blocks aces and kings.