The best starting hands in Texas holdem poker – Part 8

Instead of regurgitating statistics that can be found in poker books or websites, I will try to explain why some hands in poker are worth holding onto until the flop.

Before I discuss these hands it is important to know that the cards in your hand may actually be the least important factor of whether or not you fold before the flop. Other factors should also weigh in on your decisions such as: the number of players at the table, the amount of chips you have in relation to your opponents, where you are sitting in relation to the dealer, the action that has occurred before your turn, and the playing style of your opponents. These factors should affect whether or not to fold before the flop. For example, If I begin with a 2-7 unsuited, the worst statistical hand in poker because of the small chances of winning with a pair, hitting a straight, or a flush, I would usually fold. However, if I had a lot more chips than my opponents and I was in last position in a small handed game and everyone checked to me; I would be tempted to go all in to steal the blinds with a hand that normally would not win any money. For now, we will put those special situations aside, and focus on the hands that can win you big pots.

Notice that I indicated that I would tell you the hands that would earn you big money, as opposed to hands that people tend to win with. Any pocket pair is a good hand to start with but how much can one win with a pocket pair? You may have the best hand to start out with, but there are only two more cards in the deck that can help you, and one of your opponents may have one! So while pocket pairs are good pre-flop there is not much room for improvement. I want to share with you the hands that will break people! These hands are suited-connectors. The best being the A-K suited the lowest would be the 2-3 suited. Even though the 2-3 doesn’t have the same threat of the A-K, because you can’t really hope to win with a pair here, the 2-3 and other low suited connectors have been known to break some people.

The reason these hands are so dangerous, lies with the plethora of threats they contain. Depending on the flop suited connectors could hit a flush, a straight that your opponents may overlook making your hand all the more dangerous. For example let’s pretend you are in a pot with two other opponents one is holding AA the other AK(unsuited). The flop is A(hearts) 5(diamonds) and 2(hearts).

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