The #1 beginner mistake is playing too many hands. The cure starts with knowing which ones are truly worth it. Here are the best starting hands and how to think about them.
The premium hands (always play them)
A♠
A♥
K♠
K♦
AA, KK, QQ, AK (and JJ): these are the hands you open and re-raise with, no hesitation, from any position.
The strong hands (play them in almost any position)
- •Middle pairs: TT, 99, 88.
- •Suited broadways: AQs, AJs, KQs (two high cards of the same suit).
- •Suited aces: ATs, A5s (they can hit a flush or a straight).
The speculative hands (play them carefully, ideally in position)
Low pairs (77-22), suited connectors (98s, 76s) and suited gappers. They're looking to hit something big (a set, a flush, a straight) and win a big pot, but they miss most of the time. That's why you play them cheap and from good position.
💡 The earlier you act, the stronger your hands should be. From the button you can open many; from early positions, few.
🎯 Practice which hands to open by position→