Top 10 Best Starting Hands for Texas Hold 'Em Poker

One of the keys to being a winning Texas Holdem Poker player is to know which hands are playable and which are not.

The following is a list of my top 10 starting hands in Texas Holdem.  I have placed them in the order that I value them, number 1 being the best.

This is sure to be a great topic for debate.  Indeed many of you will value these starting hands differently based on your skill level and style of play.
Remember, any poker player can be dealt a great starting hand, its how you play the hand which seperates the good from the bad.



1. Ace-Ace
A pair of aces, also known as "pocket rockets" (and sometimes "American Airlines") is the best starting hand for Texas Hold 'Em. Think we will all be agreed on this one.

2. King-King
Second on the list is a pair of kings, also known as "cowboys" or "King Kong."

3. Queen-Queen
A pair of queens, also known as "ladies," rounds out the top three best starting hands for Texas Holdem Poker.  Don't think there can be any arguements with my selection so far.

4. Ace-King (suited)
A suited ace-king, also known as "big slick," is my pick as the fourth best starting hand for Texas Hold 'Em.

5. Ace-Queen (suited)
The suited "big chick," or "little slick," the nicknames given to a pocket ace-queen, is fifth on the list.

6. Jack-Jack
A pair of jacks, also known as "hooks" or "fishhooks".

7. King-Queen (suited)
A suited royal couple, king-queen, is next in the list of Texas Hold 'Em Poker's most powerful starting hands.

8. Ace-Jack (suited)
Nicknamed "blackjack" for obvious reasons, and sometimes called "ajax,".

9. Ace-King (offsuit)
Only one offsuit non-pair makes it into my list of at number 9, the "big slick," an ace-king.

10. 10-10
This is the only starting hand in the top 10 without a face card: a pair of tens (aka "dimes").

So, there you have it.  I think the arguements will start at selection 4.  Please feel free to leave your comments below.