The basic poker lesson is when to hold and when to fold. Knowing whether your initial deal is worth staying in the game or if you should call it a day, is one of the most important decisions to make at the beginning of the poker game. One of the most common beginner mistake is holding onto the worst pair of hole cards instead of folding and protecting your money.

Therefore, if you are a novice poker player, one of the first things you should memorize is the initial hands are worth holding and which hands leaves you no choice but to fold. Since Texas Holdem is the most popular poker variation, here you can find lists of the best and the value Holdem poker starting hands.

The best poker hands

If you are lucky enough to be treated one of these first hand, you are definitely having an excellent beginning:

Pair of Aces: also known as American Airlines or pocket rockets, it’s the best Texas Holdem starting hand.

Pair of Kings: not as good as a pair of Aces but still an excellent way to a game of Texas Holdem open.

Pair of Queens: if you want to look on the bright side, you will be beaten only by Kings and Aces.

Ace and King: if they are of the same suit, your condition is even better, since you can form the nut flush at ease.

Pair of Jacks: unless the flop shows either a Queen, King or Ace, decent chances of winning with this promising starting hand you have.

Ace and Queen: the same as Ace and King, a suitable hand would increase your chances of step as the winner.

King and Queen: unless the community cards contain an Ace, you are in a good shape with this starting hand and even better if it is suitable,

Ace and Jack: even if appears unsuited, this starting hand is still worth keeping.

King and Jack: still one of the best Texas Holdem starting hands, but be careful with it, especially when unsuited.
Ace and Ten: the Ace, it updates a pretty good hand, although requires a cautious play since it can be beaten by any of the above starting hands.

Worst Poker Hands

These hands would suit you well if you play some of the lowball variations, but if you play traditional Texas Holdem poker would be to fold the best advice.

2 and 7: If you are dealt this hand, especially unsuited, you can not even straight. Even if suited you should be so lucky to form a low flush or the lowest pair. In one word: fold.

2 and 8: the same as the previous one hand; Pair of 8s is still a low pair.

3 and 7: although it beat the previous hands, it still a worthless pair of cards

3 and 8: again, hardly even a low straight.

2 and 6: only if the community cards will feature 3, 4 and 5, you will have a chance of forming a straight. However, do not rely on them, especially if there are more than 3 participations in the game.

2 and 9: thanks to the presence of the 9 you are in better shape than with the former hands still can not form a straight and even a pair of 9s would be beaten by pairs of 10s, Jacks, Queens, etc.

3 and 9: the same thing: more than 8 lower than almost everyone else.

4 and 9, as mentioned above; Foldem.

2 and 10: even though Doyle Brunson had won two WSOP bracelets with this starting hand, unless you have the talent and experience of Brunson, do not have to keep that hand.

5 and 9: also known as Dolly Parton, this hand would get you nowhere near the final table.