Top 10 Worst Starting Hands In Texas Holdem

Posted on  by

As many of you know, Phil Hellmuth is one of the most successful Texas Hold 'em players of all time. I recently read his book, Play Poker Like the Pros, and was very impressed with his Hold 'em Strategy. It is not my intent to plagiarize his book, but no poker strategy site would be complete without mentioning the playing ability and strategy of Phil Hellmuth.

Now, let's talk about starting hands in Texas Hold'em. Ranking The Top 20 No Limit Texas Hold’em Starting Hands. I wanted to include something a bit more exciting in this article, so here's the top 20 No Limit Hold'em starting hands in terms of raw all-in equity (or percentages). Top 10 Worst Starting Hands In Texas Holdem, niagara falls canada casino sports betting, give me blackjack, slot zakelijke brief engels.

Therefore, I have chosen to reveal and comment on what Hellmuth calls his “Top 10.” When Hellmuth refers to his Top 10, he is talking about pocket card, starting hand requirements. One should note that this isn't a list of the only hands Hellmuth plays, but he does suggest that the poker player can make lots of money in low limit poker, by waiting on these cards and playing them aggressively.

Without further ado, Hellmuth's Top 10:

1. A-A

2. K-K

3. Q-Q

4. A-K suited

5. J-J

6. 10-10

7. 9-9

8. 8-8

9. A-Q suited

Best and worst starting hands in texas holdem

10. 7-7

Hellmuth submits that these 10 hands should be the only pocket cards played by the beginner in low limit Texas Hold 'em. This makes the game much simpler before the flop, however, as you can probably guess, the tricks of how to play these 10 hands after the flop can get complicated.

Top 10 Worst Starting Hands In Texas Holdem

As a general rule though, bet these top 10 hands aggressively. The higher in the ranking, the more aggressively they should be played. Your strategy after the flop will be determined by what hits the board and the actions of your opponents.

Play these top 10 right in low limit Hold 'em games and you will make money. As you build your bankroll and your confidence, you can increase your starting hand requirements.

Top 10 Worst Starting Hands In Texas Holdemas Hold Em

Meanwhile, I would suggest making a $16 investment in Hellmuth's book, Play Poker Like the Pros. It's not the perfect poker strategy book, and Phil even cautions that he is a no limit player, not a limit player! However, a look inside the mind of a man who has won multiple World Series of Poker bracelets is well worth the $16!

This article will discuss a very important topic in texas hold’em, which is starting hand requirements, and more specifically, which kinds of hands you should avoid playing.

It is an incredibly crucial concept to get your head around as novice players can easily be mistaken for thinking they can play a super wide range of hands because they’ve seen some high stakes pro take down a huge pot after playing a very mediocre holding like one discussed below.

Worst
If you are looking for the a US poker site that is safe and secure with great rewards, a solid deposit bonus and fast cashouts then you should check out Ignition Poker. Receive a $2000 first deposit bonus, earn cash back on every hand you play and receive a check in as little as 3 weeks. Read our Ignition Poker review for more reasons why we prefer Ignition Poker over any other poker room.

But this is playing poker dangerously even the worst starting hands in Texas Hold’em can give professional players headaches and even though poker pros play a lot of hands, doesn’t mean the novice player is capable of doing the same, as they lack post flop abilities.

When you’re dealt one of the worst starting hands, however, there is no reason to play like a donkey. The key is playing a solid game and having the discipline to muck mediocre hands that you know can get you into trouble.

1. 7-2 7-2 off suit is undoubtedly the worst starting hand in Texas Hold’em. These two are the lowest possible cards that cannot make a straight. After all, there are four cards between 2 and 7. In fact, even when they are suited, they make a very low flush or, in the event that either becomes a pair, a horribly low hand. Because 7-2 is the worst starting hand, many players ham it up and play it for fun.

Starting

2. 8-2 8-2 earns a place among the worst starting hands in Texas Hold’em for precisely the same reason that 7-2 does. Suited or not, you’d do well to hold or fold this hand.

3. Tie: 8-3 and 7-3 While these are slightly better than the first two, they’re some of the worst starting hands known to man. These two can beat no other hands except for the first two.

4. 6-2 Against four players, this hand is expected to lose 90% of the time. These are terrible odds, and this is precisely why 6-2 is one of the worst starting hands a player could ever get.

5. Tie: 9-2, 9-3, and 9-4 Here’s one reason why these three qualify under worst starting hands: the only thing going for them is the 9. But even if the 9 pairs, you’ll still be left with a middle pair that could be beaten by pocket 10s, jacks, queens, kings, or aces.

6. 10-2 This hand has been conferred an almost mythical sheen because ferocious poker player Doyle Brunson used it to capture two World Series of Poker Bracelets. But think wisely. You are not Doyle Brunson, who is widely considered one of the best at the game. Unless you are Doyle Brunson or someone better than Doyle Brunson, please do not convince yourself this is a good hand.

7. 9-5 People call the 9-5 the Dolly Parton and despite it being one of the worst starting hands in Hold’em, many play it because it’s fun. Unfortunately, a funny name doesn’t guarantee a sure win, and 9-5 is a statistically proven loser.

Best And Worst Starting Hands In Texas Holdem

8. Tie: 7-4, 5-4, 5-3, 6-3… Do not even contemplate holding onto these starting hands. Toss ‘em. Please just toss ‘em. Even when suited, these rarely win, and you can be up against better flush combinations.

9. Face card + low card, unsuited Here’s a common mistake that beginners make. Once they see any paint (such as jacks, queens, or kings), they play it. While this may not be the worst starting hand one could get, it could fool you into thinking you have a winning hand with top pair, when you don’t.

Worst Starting Hands In Texas Holdem

10. Ace + low card, unsuited. Also known as playing ace rags. This is another mistake that you see lots of beginners make. They play the ace plus a low card. While heads-up, this is a good hand, it seldom wins at a full ring table since there is a good chance you will be dominated.

Now that you know what the ten worst starting hands are to play in no limit texas hold’em, you can hopefully find a way to work your play around them by having the patience and discipline to avoid playing these junk hands that have little chance of being the winner at showdown. After all, no general should have to lose the war just because of a few rotten soldiers.

The problem with playing these garbage hands is that because you will rarely flop a big hand with them, when you decide to play them, you’ll often be tempted to bluff more often when it’s the wrong time and the wrong opponent to try and bluff, simply because you can’t win at showdown. You can avoid all of this if you simply decide to just fold the worst starting hands before the flop.