Texas Hold'Em - Top Ten Playing Hands

If you're a math wiz or understand advanced game theory, then you can play pot odds and outs from the get-go if you wish. Personally, I believe that you need to learn to crawl before you can walk and to ride a bike with training wheels before you sign up for the Tour de France. What's my point? Well, if you're anything like me, you play more from the gut than from the mathematics. If you can learn to play solid hands and play them well, it's not only easy to learn but the skill is a potentially profitable one for you to have.

So, without further ado, here are the top ten hands. Wherever it applies, you should note that suited hands are better to play than unsuited ones.

1) AA - pocket rockets.

2) AK - big slick.

3) KK - cowboys

4) QQ - a pair of ladies, the 'Hilton sisters' etc

All of these are great hands to bet out with, no matter what your table position is. Table position, of course, refers to where you are at the table with respect to the dealer button and the blinds. You'll want to bet these hands strong pre-and post flop. If you play these cards right, you want see a lot of 'turns' or 'rivers' here; but if you do, you've still got a great shot at a solid - and big - payoff.

5) AQ

6) JJ

7) 1010

Each of these hands is at least worth a call to see a flop. However, it's preferable that you bet here. If you're in a no-limit game, try to double the big blind at least and see what happens. Just tread carefully because you really could get into some serious trouble with these hands. Others can out-flop you pretty quickly. So, post-flop, try a soft bet (usually a minimum type of bet which is great to use to check out your where your hand stands.) If you're re-raised, you should fold 'cuz you're probably beat.

8) 99

9) 88

10) 77

These are the hands you'll want to see the flop with. You've got about a one-in-eight chance of making a set (three of a kind) - so stay in the game unless someone goes really hard over the top. After the flop, if you don't hit your set, you may try to bet to see where you hand is in the pecking order. If there are one or two over-cards on the board, or a straight or flush possibility - for someone else - and you get raised, get out while you can.

So, there you have it - the Texas Hold 'Em Top Ten Hands. I'm sure that there are those who would disagree with me - they may put AJ in there and bounce out 77 or what have you; but, if you memorize and play these hands only and consistently well, you can really minimize your losses and maximize your gains. That's a skill that will carry you far no matter what the Poker game or the stakes you play it for are.

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