Texas Hold'em poker is everywhere these days — on TV, online, and in clubs and casinos. Before you sit down to a game of Texas Hold 'em, make sure you're in good shape to be successful — take care of non-poker issues and check your physical, mental, and financial status. During the game, you need to understand basic odds and playable hands, as well as how to bluff successfully and follow proper poker etiquette. Texas Hold ‘Em also has its own abbreviations for online play.
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Poker Starting Hand Chart (6-max Cash, 100bb): Hand Chart Notation Getting to know which hands to play and in which positions is even more important than the actual hand. This 6-max Cash Hand Chart details the hands you should play and the position. Welcome to Poker 101 for dummies – where beginners learn to play poker. Poker 101 will give you a grounding in the mechanics of the game and get you started with some winning strategies. Read through the following pages to get an understanding of all poker related info plus lots of extra tips and tricks. If you are unsure of the Rules of Texas Holdem or the Hand Rankings of Poker, make sure. Poker Starting Hands - Comprehensive guide to which poker hands you should play, including a 2020 Texas Hold'em poker starting hands chart.
Playable Texas Hold'em Hands
Texas Hold'em is a game of strategy, like any poker game, but where you're sitting in relation to the action becomes part of your strategy when playing Hold'em. If you bet early, you generally need better cards than you do if you're one of the blinds. The following table offers sound advice on what hands are playable when you're sitting in different positions.
Questions to Ask Yourself before You Play Texas Hold'em
Whether you're playing Texas Hold'em for fun or money — make that whether you're playing for high stakes or low stakes — make sure you're in a position mentally, physically, and financially to enjoy the game and make the most of your chances. Ask yourself these questions before you sit down to a game:
What is the purpose of my playing this session? Whether it's to learn more, win money, or just hang with friends for a good time, make sure you know why you're there and that you're doing everything you can to accomplish that goal.
If I were to play an opponent who's exactly the same as a well-rested, un-stressed version of me, would that person have an advantage? If the answer is 'yes,' hold off on playing until you're in a better psychological and physical state.
Can my bankroll handle this level of play? If not, play a lower level.
Are there any distractions in my life that I need to get rid of before I play? Pay your rent, walk your dog, call your significant other — whatever it is, get it out of your head so you can focus.
Do I know if the house I'm playing in has any bonuses for players such as bad beat jackpots, high hands, free food and/or drinks for players, or freeroll tournaments? If not, ask a floorperson before you start playing and find out about the details of how you can qualify.
Is there an aggressive person at the table I'll be playing at? If so, try to get yourself seated to his left so you see the raises before your action and not after.
What do I know about the people sitting at the table? Whatever it is, use it to your advantage.
Rough Odds for Texas Hold'em
Playing poker is about playing the odds. The following list gives the odds for outcomes in Texas Hold'em hands. When you realize how heavily the odds are stacked against you, you may want to rethink going all-in before the flop with two suited cards. Use the odds to your advantage:
1 percent (1-in-100): Percentage of time that no player holds an Ace or a King at a table in a 10-handed game
1 percent (1-in-100): Percentage of time that if you hold two suited cards, you'll flop a flush
6 percent (about 1-in-20): Percentage of time that five community cards will give pocket suited cards a flush
6 percent (about 1-in-20): Percentage of time that you'll be dealt a pocket pair
8 percent (about 1-in-12): Percentage of time that you'll hit at least trips after having a pair on the flop
12 percent (about 1-in-8): Percentage of time that you'll flop trips if holding a pocket pair
12 percent (about 1-in-8): Percentage of time that two more cards will flop in the same suit as a suited pocket pair
19 percent (about 1-in-5): Percentage of time that the five community cards will at least trip your pocket pair
32 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you'll pair one of your cards on the flop (with no pocket pair)
33 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you'll make a full house or better after having trips on the flop
35 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you'll make a flush on the turn or river if you have four cards to a flush after the flop
Texas Hold'em Bluffing Tips
What makes any poker game exciting, and Texas Hold'em is certainly no exception, is that players can bluff at any point. Sometimes half the fun of a game is seeing whether you can successfully bluff an opponent out of some money. But, even as you're misleading your opponents, make sure you bluff in the right circumstances. Heed these bluffing tips:
Only bluff where it makes a difference to your standing — either in a tournament or to your stack of chips.
Be careful bluffing someone considerably worse than you are. He may call just to see what you have, or on some probabilistically low draw when he already has you beaten anyway.
Bluff in situations where the board hints at the great hand you do not have: straights and flushes being hinted at by the board, the turn of an Ace, and so on.
Don't try to bluff players who only play the most solid of hands if they're still in the pot.
Don't bluff people who are extremely likely to call.
Do bluff the timid or people who are likely to fold.
Remember that it's easier to bluff in No-Limit than Limit because the bets (both implied and real) are bigger.
Poker Etiquette for Texas Hold'em
The etiquette tips in the following list apply to Texas Hold'em and to any other poker game. Sure, you can have fun while you play poker, but you can have all the fun you want without being impolite to the other players or the dealer. Basic poker etiquette includes these tips:
Always play in turn.
Be aware of when it's your turn to post the blinds and do so promptly.
Any time there is a discrepancy at the table, talk to the dealer — not the other players — about it. If you're not able to get satisfaction from the dealer, ask for a floorperson. Talking with other players about the problem you perceive may generate ill will among people who have no authority in the situation in the first place.
Place your bets in front of you. Do not splash them into the pot.
Do not show your hand to other players at the table while a hand is in progress.
Tell the dealer when you intend to raise. In No-Limit, gather the amount that you're going to raise and either announce the total, or move it all forward with one motion. This prevents being called on a 'string raise.'
Don't forget to tip your dealer. Dealers work for minimum wage and rely on tips for their livelihood.
Online Poker Abbreviations for Texas Hold'em
Playing online poker in general, and Texas Hold'em in particular, is a very popular pastime. When you're online, you may encounter abbreviations specific to the world of poker. To understand what other players are saying, get familiar with these online abbreviations:
| Abbreviation | What It Means | Abbreviation | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | To remove or ban | ne1 | Anyone |
| brb | Be right back | nh | Nice hand |
| gc/nc | Slightly sarcastic phrase meaning good catch/nice catch | gg | Good game |
| lol | Laughing out loud | gl | Good luck |
| nl | No-Limit | ty | Thank you |
| n1 | Nice one | 🙂 | Smiley face (view sideways) |
Almost all variants of poker are based around a poker hand that's made up of 5 cards. It is these 5 cards that determines who the winner is. Therefore, it is critical that you understand the ranking order of poker hands so that you know how strong your poker hand is compared to your opponents.
Royal Flush
This is the best possible hand you can get in poker and is unbeatable. It's basically a 'Straight Flush' that runs from Ace to Ten.
Straight Flush
Five cards in numerical order and are all of the same suit. This is similar to a 'Royal Flush' with the only exception being that it does not contain an Ace. In instances where multiple players have a Straight Flush, the one with the highest high value card wins.
Four of A Kind (also known as 'Quads')
As the name suggests, it's a combination of four cards of the same rank and a kicker (the fifth card).
In the event there are more than 1 player with this hand, the one comprised of the highest quads wins.
In community card games, where players can use cards from the 'board' (cards are placed faced up, and can be used by any player to create a best 5-card hand), and therefore it's possible that multiple player can have 'Four of a Find' made up from the same quads, then the player with the highest kicker wins.
Full House
Fourth in the poker hand rankings is the Full House. It is a combination of any three cards of the same numerical value and a pair of another value. When there's multiple 'Full House' hands, the one with the highest triplet wins. If players have the same triplets, then the one with the highest pair wins.
Flush
A 'Flush' is a set of five cards with the same suit. The cards do not have to be in sequential order be a Flush. Between two or more flushes, the one with the highest high value card wins, with an 'Ace-high Flush' being the strongest.
In the event that multiple hands have the same highest high value card, the winner is then determined by the second highest high value card, so on and so forth.
Straight
Any five cards in sequential order that is of different suits. Two Straights are compared by the value of their high cards. An ace can be used as the highest value card in the Straight, or the lowest value card in a Straight. For example, an Ace-high straight, like the one in our example, is the strongest Straight you can get (also known as a 'Broadway' Straight). But a Straight consisting of Ace, two, three, four, five is considered the weakest Straight (also known as 'Wheel' straight).
Three of a Kind (also known as 'Trips' or 'Set')
A three of a kind is just a Full House without the additional pair. Meaning, the other 2 cards are of different values. When there are multiple 'Three of a Kind', the one with the highest triplet wins.
If players have the same triplets, then the winner is determined by the one with the highest value of the two remaining cards, and if multiple players have the same card here again, then the player with the second highest high value card wins.
Two Pairs
You probably can guess what this is. It's simply Two Pairs of any value. In instances where there are more than 1 player with a Two Pairs, the winner is first determined by the one with the highest pair, then the highest second pair, then the kicker (fifth card).
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One Pair
This hand consists of one pair of the same value cards, and 3 unrelated cards, all of different value. In the event of a tie, the hand with the highest pair wins. If players have the same highest pair, then the winner is determined by the hand with the highest value card of the 3 kickers, then the 2nd highest, then then 3rd.
High Card
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If your hand doesn't fall into any of the above categories, then what you have is a 'High Card' hand and the value of the highest card in the hand determines the strength of this hand. So, a player with a 10 High Card would beat a player with a 8 High Card.
In instances where multiple players have the same highest high card, then it goes down the remaining four cards to determine who the winner is.
As shown in our example, the strongest High Card hand is a A, K, Q, J, 9.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a higher-ranking hand according to the chart above always beat a hand of a lower ranking?Yes. The ranking order is absolute, and there are no instances where a lower ranked hand would beat a higher ranked hand.
Both my friend and I have a Two Pair hand consisting of the same two pairs and a different kicker. So my hand is Ad, Ac, 8d,8c, 10 and his hand is Ah, As, 8h, 8s, 9. He said he is the winner because his two pairs are made from hearts and spades, which are usually considered to be higher than the diamonds and clubs in my hand. Is this true?Your friend is wrong. Suits don't play a role in determine the strength of a hand in poker. Only the numerical value of the card does. So in this example, since you both have the same two pairs, then the winner would be the one with the highest kicker (the fifth card). So, that would be you, because your 10 is higher than your friend's 9.
Does having an 'All-Red' or 'All-Black' hand mean anything in poker?No, it doesn't. As we explained in the above question, suits play no roles in poker. This is same for the colour of a card.
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In Texas hold'em with five community cards, I'm able to create three pairs. Would this beat Two Pairs?
Full House
Fourth in the poker hand rankings is the Full House. It is a combination of any three cards of the same numerical value and a pair of another value. When there's multiple 'Full House' hands, the one with the highest triplet wins. If players have the same triplets, then the one with the highest pair wins.
Flush
A 'Flush' is a set of five cards with the same suit. The cards do not have to be in sequential order be a Flush. Between two or more flushes, the one with the highest high value card wins, with an 'Ace-high Flush' being the strongest.
In the event that multiple hands have the same highest high value card, the winner is then determined by the second highest high value card, so on and so forth.
Straight
Any five cards in sequential order that is of different suits. Two Straights are compared by the value of their high cards. An ace can be used as the highest value card in the Straight, or the lowest value card in a Straight. For example, an Ace-high straight, like the one in our example, is the strongest Straight you can get (also known as a 'Broadway' Straight). But a Straight consisting of Ace, two, three, four, five is considered the weakest Straight (also known as 'Wheel' straight).
Three of a Kind (also known as 'Trips' or 'Set')
A three of a kind is just a Full House without the additional pair. Meaning, the other 2 cards are of different values. When there are multiple 'Three of a Kind', the one with the highest triplet wins.
If players have the same triplets, then the winner is determined by the one with the highest value of the two remaining cards, and if multiple players have the same card here again, then the player with the second highest high value card wins.
Two Pairs
You probably can guess what this is. It's simply Two Pairs of any value. In instances where there are more than 1 player with a Two Pairs, the winner is first determined by the one with the highest pair, then the highest second pair, then the kicker (fifth card).
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One Pair
This hand consists of one pair of the same value cards, and 3 unrelated cards, all of different value. In the event of a tie, the hand with the highest pair wins. If players have the same highest pair, then the winner is determined by the hand with the highest value card of the 3 kickers, then the 2nd highest, then then 3rd.
High Card
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If your hand doesn't fall into any of the above categories, then what you have is a 'High Card' hand and the value of the highest card in the hand determines the strength of this hand. So, a player with a 10 High Card would beat a player with a 8 High Card.
In instances where multiple players have the same highest high card, then it goes down the remaining four cards to determine who the winner is.
As shown in our example, the strongest High Card hand is a A, K, Q, J, 9.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a higher-ranking hand according to the chart above always beat a hand of a lower ranking?Yes. The ranking order is absolute, and there are no instances where a lower ranked hand would beat a higher ranked hand.
Both my friend and I have a Two Pair hand consisting of the same two pairs and a different kicker. So my hand is Ad, Ac, 8d,8c, 10 and his hand is Ah, As, 8h, 8s, 9. He said he is the winner because his two pairs are made from hearts and spades, which are usually considered to be higher than the diamonds and clubs in my hand. Is this true?Your friend is wrong. Suits don't play a role in determine the strength of a hand in poker. Only the numerical value of the card does. So in this example, since you both have the same two pairs, then the winner would be the one with the highest kicker (the fifth card). So, that would be you, because your 10 is higher than your friend's 9.
Does having an 'All-Red' or 'All-Black' hand mean anything in poker?No, it doesn't. As we explained in the above question, suits play no roles in poker. This is same for the colour of a card.
Poker Hand Guide Printable
In Texas hold'em with five community cards, I'm able to create three pairs. Would this beat Two Pairs?Even Though there are seven cards in total, you are only able to use 5 cards from the seven to create your strongest 5-card hand. Therefore, it's not possible to have 3 pairs, which requires 6 cards. In this particular instance, what you have is a Two Pair hand.
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Does a K, A, 2, 3, 5 count as a Straight?Poker Hand Guide Printable 2019
No, it doesn't. Aces can only be used as a high card or a low card in the case of any poker hand that requires the numbers to be in a sequential order, such as a 'Straight' or a 'Straight Flush'. So, a '10, J, Q, K, A' is the highest Straight possible (also known as a 'Broadway' Straight), and a 'A, 2, 3, 4, 5' is the lowest Straight possible (also known as a 'Wheel' Straight). But Aces cannot be used as a wraparound Straight, such as 'K, A, 2, 3, 4'.
