Starting Cards

A good article to start with is the strength of your starting two cards.

Strong Starting Cards

AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK (suited or unsuited) AQ (suited or unsuited)
With these strong cards, you should be looking to raise and re-raise before the flop to force out people with drawing hands.

Medium Starting Cards

AJ, A10
KQ, KJ, QJ, J10 (suited)
99, 1010
K10 (suited)
Q10 (suited)

These are medium strong hands as all have a strong flush or straight chance. You can raise in a late seating position if no one has raised before you.

Low Value Starting Cards

88, 77
J9, 109, 98 and 87 (suited)
Ace and any suited card
KJ, QJ, (unsuited)

With these starting cards, its best not to raise. You want to see the flop as cheaply as possible.It is worth occasionaly playing with these cards, if someone does raise, to alter your play and not appear to 'tight' a player.

Occasional Play Starting Cards

Any pair, 66 and under
Q10 and J10 (unsuited)
K9, Q9 (suited)

If you can get to the flop cheaply, sometimes these are worth playing with. Any other starting pair are worthless and should be folded asap! Hopefully this gives you a quick guide to follow for your starting hands. Click here to go back to poker strategy section.