10 Best Poker Starting Hands to Play in Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold 'Em Poker is a great poker game that has quickly become one of the most loved casino games. There is no house edge with this card game, and an effective strategy can give you an advantage in Texas Hold 'Em Poker. However, to begin with, it's always worth noting which of the starting hands you should really raise with. So, here are the top ten starting hands in Texas Hold 'Em:

1.) The Double Ace or Pair of Aces

Most consider a pair of aces to be the best starting hand you can get in Texas Hold 'Em. This is perhaps not surprising, as aces are the highest cards of the suit. If an ace then emerges on the flop, a pair of aces then becomes a hat-trick of aces. Three aces is a difficult combination of cards for any player to beat, and so with that, you have a great chance of winning the hand.

2.) Pair of Kings

After the double ace comes a pair of kings. The second-highest cards of a suite are a great pair to have. A pair could win the hand itself, while another king on the flop will make the hand very hard to beat.

3.) Pair of Queens

After two kings, two queens is the next best hand in Texas Hold 'em. Of course, as they are lower-suited cards, their pair is lower than the above-mentioned. However, two queens will give any player a great chance.

4.) Ace and King Suited

After the highest ranking doubles Ace and king suited is a great hand to have. True, it is not a pair, but this hand has great potential. Not only are they two of the highest cards to have, but they are also suited, which means they could provide a high flush with the highest of kickers to outmatch any other, and perhaps even a royal flush that would not be possible with the above hands. The potential for a high straight is also there with this combination.

5.) Ace and Queen Suited

Next up comes the ace and queen suited. Two very high cards, both of the same suite will leave plenty of options for potent doubles, triples, and perhaps even a royal flush! Only an ace and king combination can beat this hand with a double, and with chances of a high flush or straight, it is a good starting hand.

6.) Pair of Jacks

Double jacks are a good hand to have. Of course, the hand will be outmatched by the other pairs above, but a double jack and potential triple jack will still give players a good chance.

7.) King and Queen Suited

King & queen suited is most probably the next best starting hand. With this hand, strong straights and flushes become possible. Plus, only a double ace can beat a pair of either of these.

8.) Ace and Jack Suited

The ace and jack is a hand that will provide the ace with a strong kicker card. As such, you can still have a reasonable chance of winning with a double ace. Failing that, a good flush and with a little luck even a straight may still happen with this combination.

9.) King and Jack Suited

Another high-suited combination will provide players with some chance of winning. A beatable hand, perhaps, but still a good one that is certainly worth calling at least before the flop. Players may even still make a royal flush!

10.) Pair of Tens

I have chosen a pair of tens as the final combination on this list of ten. It is better than an ace & ten starter hand because any triple will beat a double ace. With a potential triple ten on the flop, this will beat any double and most other triple combinations except those mentioned above. Who knows, even four of a kind may be possible!

So these are ten of the best starting hands in Texas Hold 'Em Poker. It is worth raising with most of these before the flop, while some of the lower-ranked hands can still at least be called with.