Dominate Texas Hold’em with our no-nonsense guide to the strongest hands, and watch the chips stack up—while your poker friends shrink away.

Choose your cards wisely—it’s one of poker's golden rules. Sure, in theory any hand can win, but so make the road to victory a hell of a lot smoother. Knowing which hands to play and which to fold can take your game from average to unstoppable. A little patience at the start of each game goes a long way—no guarantees, of course, but weaving in a bit of strategy is always going to give you an edge.

A QUICK RUNDOWN OF TEXAS HOLD 'EM

If this is your first time playing Texas Hold 'em, congrats—you’ve picked the most popular poker variant out there. Even if you’ve played before, brushing up never hurts. You start with two cards, aiming to create the best five-card hand with your hole cards and five community cards dealt through the flop, turn, and river. Now let’s dive into the strongest hands in Texas Hold'em—from high pockets to suited connectors.

POCKET ACES

Pocket aces sit at the top of the poker food chain. They’re the pinnacle of starting hands in Texas Hold’em, often dominating through the flop, turn, and river. They set the stage for powerful combinations like two pair or three of a kind, and suited aces offer an additional shot at a flush. However, while aces are formidable, they aren’t unbeatable.

Pre-flop, a strong raise helps thin the field, protecting your hand. While slow-playing can build a big pot, it risks giving opponents a chance to outdraw you. And remember, aces are still just a pair—vulnerable to straights or flushes. Play them boldly but with an eye on the board. Adjusting your strategy to table dynamics and exercising caution against obvious threats can help you maximize their potential while avoiding costly mistakes.

POCKET KINGS

Sitting just below aces, pocket kings are the second-strongest starting hand in Texas Hold’em. They share many benefits with aces, holding strong through the flop, turn, and sometimes the river. The goal is often to make two pair or three of a kind, while suited kings add a chance for a flush.

Kings play well from any position but perform best against fewer opponents, so a pre-flop raise is essential. Be cautious, though—aces can and do appear often against kings, making them vulnerable. Strategic play helps maximize their potential.

POCKET QUEENS

Are you seeing a theme yet? A pair will always be a solid starting hand. A pair of queens shares all the same benefits as aces and kings. The goal is also the same: aim for two pairs or three of a kind. Queens should be played more cautiously than aces and kings because they are lower ranked.

Try to thin the table out with an aggressive raise pre-flop to ensure you only have one or two opponents. Playing position is also more critical. Play them from any position, but ideally, you want to be first to act. Raise and set the tone, or last to act so you can see what everyone else does first and act accordingly.

ACE-KING SUITED

Ace-king suited is one of the best drawing hands in Texas Hold’em, with potential for pairs, two pairs, straights, or flushes. Its high kicker ensures strong showdowns, particularly when an ace or king hits the board. The hand excels in producing the nut straight or a flush, especially as suited connectors boost these odds. Play aggressively pre-flop to thin the field, but remain cautious if the flop doesn’t connect. Without improvement by the river, ace-king is often just a high card, so be prepared to fold in multi-way pots.

POCKET JACKS

While not as high-ranked as aces, kings, or queens, pocket jacks still offer strong potential when played wisely. Just like all pocket pairs, aim for two pair or three of a kind. On their own, jacks can still win the pot but keep an eye out for larger pairs lurking out there.

Take an aggressive stance with jacks, raise and try to thin your opponent’s down to two or three people. Jacks are on the border, good enough to play, not good enough to go all in on. Play, but don't get married to them. They might be toward the lower end of the premium hand rankings, but pocket jacks are still far better than nearly every other hand pre-flop.

ACE-KING OFF SUIT

As the name suggests, ace-king off suit means your two hold cards have different suits. A highly speculative hand—great if you hit, devastating if you get to the river and you get stuck with ace-high. Ace-king off suit can easily make a pair or two pair, and the solid kicker means you have a good chance against other similar pairs.

A straight is also a good possibility. Play position where possible, be aggressive out of the gate and don't give opponents a chance to hit. Play with caution and be prepared to fold if you don't make a higher combination.

POCKET TENS

Pocket tens are strong but fall below premium hands like jacks or higher. Still more substantial than most other hands, a lower pocket pair must be cautiously approached. Aim for three of a kind and two pair. A suited pair can open the door for a flush.

They are best when combined with another ten on the flop, turn or river but can still hold up as only a pair in many circumstances. Two pairs are the most likely outcome when playing pocket tens, higher combinations are possible. Pocket tens generally work best in early or late position.

ACE QUEEN SUITED

Another suited connector, ace-queen suited is most likely to make a pair or two pair. A flush is also possible; with the ace, you will have the nut flush. A straight is possible. However, it's an inside straight draw which has worse odds. Play early or late position, but approach with caution anywhere else. Ace queen can net some great results; it has a good kicker, don’t get overly attached. Fold if you don’t hit anything.

ACE JACK SUITED

Ace-jack suited is a strong drawing hand, offering opportunities for pairs, two pairs, or flushes. Like ace-queen suited, it thrives on its high-kicker value. The key is early aggression and positional awareness. Raise pre-flop to filter out weaker hands but be ready to fold if the board doesn’t support improvement by the turn. Keep an eye on opponents’ actions, as heavy raises may signal stronger holdings.

POCKET NINES OR BELOW

Lower pocket pairs offer a solid pre-flop edge but require strategic play. Aim for two pair or three of a kind, which are the most likely winning combinations. Suited pairs bring flush possibilities, though these are rare. Play low pairs cautiously, focusing on early or late positions. Use aggressive raises to thin the competition but avoid multi-way pots without significant improvement. By the river, low pairs often lose value against larger hands.

TEXAS HOLD’EM POKER HANDS FAQS

1. What is the best starting hand in Texas Hold'em?
Pocket Aces (AA) is the best starting hand in Texas Hold'em, offering the highest chance of winning pre-flop and on the board.

2. How do you play Pocket Jacks?
Pocket Jacks should be played aggressively pre-flop but with caution. If the board doesn’t improve your hand, be ready to fold, especially in multi-way pots.

3. When should I fold Ace-King?
Fold Ace-King if it doesn’t connect with the board or if you're facing heavy opposition on the turn or river, especially in multi-way pots.

4. Is Ace-Queen suited a strong hand?
Yes, Ace-Queen suited is a strong drawing hand with potential for pairs, two pairs, straights, and flushes. However, approach it cautiously if you don't hit the board.

5. What’s the strategy with low pocket pairs like 9s or 8s?
With low pocket pairs, aim for two pair or three of a kind. Play cautiously, and don’t commit to the pot unless you improve on the board.

6. Should I always raise with Pocket Aces?
Yes, raising with Pocket Aces pre-flop is generally a good strategy to thin the field. However, if the board doesn’t help, be cautious with the post-flop play.

7. Is Ace-King suited a good hand to go all-in with?
Ace-King suited is a strong drawing hand but it’s often better to raise and play strategically, rather than going all-in unless the situation is favorable.

8. What’s the ideal position to play Ace-Queen suited?
Ace-Queen suited can be played from early or late positions, but it's best to raise from early positions and act accordingly based on the table dynamics.

9. How do I handle Ace-King off-suit?
Ace-King off-suit is a strong hand but more speculative. Play aggressively if in position, but be ready to fold if the hand doesn’t improve.

10. When should I fold Pocket Kings?
Fold Pocket Kings if you’re up against an opponent with an Ace, especially if they’ve raised or re-raised pre-flop. Be mindful of board texture and player actions.