Adding 1 big blind for each limper is a rule of thumb.

When sitting on a top-five hand, it’s important to eliminate as much limp action as possible. A pre-flop raise should be anywhere from half to the full size of the pot when entering first for action, also known as an open-raise. Some poker professionals advocate for 2.5 times the big blind as the first action, but there are special cases to go even higher. The flop, turn and river each decrease the equity of a hand, thus giving a different starting strategy in every case.

There are plenty of different theories as to what a raise should be with these starting hands. Here’s a look at the top-20 hole cards for No Limit Texas Hold’em: Each of them possesses a probability to win. With reference to suit, there are as many as 1,326 different combinations of hole cards. There are 169 different combinations of starting hands. Without knowing an opponent’s cards, here’s a quick snapshot of the percentage chance of winning based on starting cards. Learning the strength of your starting cards will help distinguish if a player should be in a hand and for how much of an investment. The video above shows four players all possessing top-20 starting hole cards. Knowing win probabilities behind each of the card combinations will ensure a continuous edge for the player.

Bet sizing and button strategy are essential to an advanced poker game, but this article will focus on the top starting hands and how to bet them. The best way to check out of the fish zone is to know the top-20 hole cards for a No Limit Texas Hold'em game. Fish can easily be identified by making an incorrect play with respect to the hole cards and table position. From bad starting hole cards to playing too many hands to unusual bet sizing, a fish can make the night for a poker professional. (See: Darren Rovell's first game at 888poker.)Ī fish is a derogatory term for player who has no clue how to play the game. Based on my personal experiences on a riverboat in Missouri to a Genting card room in the UK, there is always a fish at the table.

Texas holdem starting hand